Wise Dan
“After the Glory”
A look back at the career of
the great Wise Dan, through my mind and my lens, and a case for the erection of a monumental statue of
this champion at Keeneland Racecourse
It is the exception, rather than the rule, that the
recognition and appreciation of true “greatness” occurs while the illustrious
story is unfolding, hindsight being so often a prerequisite for a true grasping
of what has sublimely transpired before our very eyes. In the world of horse racing, to be sure,
there is the occasional animal of such precocity and brilliance that all
immediately are captured by the aura surrounding such a horse, bringing to mind
the likes of Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and of course the mighty Secretariat. Other horses, slower to mature and attain their
genetic potential, become recognized for their exceptional contributions and
talent not by way of immediate brilliance but following a process of slower
maturation, such horse’s inherent potential perhaps not revealed until late in
their third, fourth, or even fifth year of life. These are the horses whose true worth becomes
recognized typically only after a period of sustained excellence occurring
later in life, horses who achieve their fame by giving their all at the highest
level each and every time they set foot upon the field of competition, careers
of longevity and eminence, magnificent horses of the ilk of Kelso, Forego,
Cigar…and Keeneland’s own, wonderful Wise Dan!
Dan began his racing career early in his three year old year
and quickly gave promise of being a very nice horse, possibly an exceptional
horse, while breaking his maiden in his second outing at Turfway Park by some
15 lengths. He returned off that
auspicious maiden victory to win his next start, an allowance event at
Churchill Downs. His next race clearly
reflected the confidence held by his connections as he now undertook a
tremendous class jump, a challenge for which he proved most worthy. On 10-8-2010 he won his first of what would
eventually prove to be seven graded stakes victories at Keeneland, handily
dispatching a very talented field in the G3 Phoenix Stakes in the quick time of
1:09.2. Having at this point raced on
only four occasions, his potential was such that he next ran in the G1
Breeder’s Cup Sprint at Churchill, here finishing a very respectable fifth
while being defeated less than three lengths for the victory. He completed his three year old campaign
while stretching out to one mile, comfortably winning this allowance/optional
claimer at Churchill Downs on 11-25.2010.
His initial campaign, therefore, showed a record of 6-4-0-0, including
his first graded stakes victory, while racing exclusively on dirt and
all-weather surfaces. An impressive
beginning, indeed, but hardly foreshadowing what was to follow.
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| Breeder's Cup Sprint |
His four year old campaign started off inexplicably poorly,
with what would prove to be very uncharacteristic dull performances in the G2
Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland, the G3 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill, and an
allowance/optional claimer again at Churchill Downs. Switched to the turf for the G2 Firecracker
at Churchill on 7-4-2011, Dan finally seemed to figure out how to use his
emerging massive frame, and here turned in what would prove to be one of many
scintillating performances as he defeated a top class turf field by nearly
three lengths. Victory in the Presque
Ilse Mile quickly followed, after which he returned to his home track of
Keeneland to make his first of many attempts in G1 turf company, this day in
the Shadwell Mile. Though highly
competitive against a stellar field of turf specialists, he was not quite able
to overcome an outside trip, closing steadily at the wire while finishing a
close fourth, defeated less than two lengths by reigning turf champion and
seven time G1 winner, Gio Ponti. Rebounding
quickly off this defeat, Dan forthwith demonstrated that, as good as the old
Dan had been, this new Dan was soon to prove nothing short of sensational. Returning to Polytrack, three weeks later he
annexed his second graded stakes victory at Keeneland, the G2 Fayette Stakes,
winning off easily by four widening lengths.
Again demonstrating that racing surface was no issue, he completed his
four year old season with a compelling near four length victory in the G1 Clark
Handicap at Churchill Downs while again racing on the dirt. Thus closed out the four year old season for
this now emerging superstar of racing.
Beginning with three early very out of character lackluster performances,
he closed his season winning four of his final five starts including two Grade
2 and one Grade 1 victories. Never again
would such terms as “lackluster,” “dull,” or the like be applied when speaking
of Wise Dan. Indeed, his performances
would hereafter prove to be the very antithesis of such descriptive commentary
as he would henceforth emerge as one of the greatest and most courageous
Thoroughbreds to ever set foot upon any racetrack, anywhere.
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| Fayette Stakes |
And so it was that at an age when so many horses have
retired because of injury, loss of form, or a myriad of causes, Wise Dan at age
five years finally put everything together.
His powerful muscular body was finally attuned and in sync with his
massive heart, indefatigable courage and indomitable desire to win. These unmatched qualities, combined with the exceptional
horsemanship displayed by his lifetime trainer, Charlie Lopresti, proved
virtually unstoppable over the next three years. His season began with his third graded
victory at Keeneland, this in the G3 Ben Ali contested on Polytrack, a race he
won by greater than 10 lengths and in which he established a new track record
for the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.63. His only
setback for the entire season occurred in his next outing, the G1 Stephen
Foster going 1 1/8th miles on the dirt at Churchill Downs, a race in
which he made a bold charge down the middle of the track, collared the leading
horse jumps from the wire, and was gearing down in victory at the very instant
the eventual winner, obscured from Dan and John Velazquez by the horse to their
immediate inside, shot through unseen on the rail to grasp victory, a defeat of
dubious necessity. The remainder of this
championship season saw no such hitches.
His next outing was in the G2 Fourstardave at Saratoga, a race he easily
annexed by five lengths. From here he
ventured to Canada for the G1 Woodbine Mile, winning this international event
by a widening 3 ¼ lengths in 1:34. A
return to his home base at Keeneland followed, where a formidable group of 11
foes lined up against him in the G1 Shadwell Mile, all to no avail as he handily
dismissed this highly talented field to win by 2 ¼ facile lengths while
garnering his fourth graded stake and first G1 victory at Keeneland Race
Course. The culmination of his season
took place at Santa Anita in the G1 Breeder’s Cup Mile. Here he faced arguably his greatest
opposition but, if so, he took no notice nor did he take any prisoners as he
swept to a widening 1 ½ length victory over this stellar field while
establishing a new course record for Santa Anita, the mile run in a blistering
1:31.78. His season complete, he proved
victorious in five of his six starts while winning three G1 races and
establishing two track records, his only defeat likely attributable to racing
misfortune in the G1 Stephen Foster.
Year-end honors inundated the beautiful big chestnut gelding and
included Champion Turf Horse, Older Horse, and Horse of the Year. Quite a spectacular year indeed for the
occupant of stall 8, Barn 62 at Keeneland Race Course!
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| 2012 Ben Ali, NTR |
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| 2012 Ben Ali, NTR |
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| Dan surges past leader in deep stretch, never sees Ron The Greek on rail |
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| Dan explodes in stretch 2012 Shadwell Mile, showing tremendous stride |
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| Early morning breeze, Keeneland, 3-9-2013, Damion Rock aboard |
2013 and age six saw no letting up in this tremendous
horse’s resume. Confidently placed for
his seasonal debut, he dominated the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland while
defeating a small but very talented field of G1 competitors, this race marking
his second G1 and fifth graded victory overall at his home track. He next annexed the 1 1/8th mile
G1 Woodford Reserve Classic at Churchill Downs, winning off by nearly five
lengths on a rain laden, yielding turf course.
A return to Churchill found the going again soft, the track deep and
yielding after heavy rains. It was here
in the G2 Firecracker Stakes, in the dark of night in pouring rain and under
the glare of the Churchill lights, that Wise Dan proved beyond doubt, for any
doubters that could possibly remain, the difference between a very talented,
very good horse, and a great horse. Breaking
from post position one, and giving from 11 to 13 pounds to his competitors, Dan
was quickly trapped down on the rail throughout the race, the riders of his
competitors attempting to keep him corralled in the heaviest part of the rain
soaked track for as long as possible, this strategy appearing to them to be at
least as important as riding their own mounts to their best advantage, for to
these riders doing so was one and the same.
Turning into the stretch with less than 3/16ths to run, John Velazquez
had a ton of horse with nowhere to go, Wise Dan running with mouth open and head high as he fought
his rider’s restraint. Approaching the
1/8th pole, however, the leader Seruni drifted off the hedge ever so slightly and in
an instant, before John Velazquez could possibly ask him, Dan hit that hole and
hit it hard. Seruni battled on, coming
back over in an attempt to close the tiny gap, in so doing actually knocking
Dan into the hedge. Bad mistake! Ears pinned, tail flying, nostrils flaring,
Dan surged through this tiny seam, forcing his opening wider, and once free
exploding to the fore, eventually winning by widening lengths. Speaking to his confidence in this great
champion, jockey John Velazquez in fact at no time even cocked his whip. A grade 2 victory, very expected, is what the
record will show. Only watching the tape
will show the real story! The G2 Fourstardave
at Saratoga was next, and here again Dan gave from 11 to 14 pounds to the field
while once more toying with his
opposition and winning in hand. A return
engagement in the G1 Woodbine Mile was next in order and once more he was
called upon to give weight to his competition, and once more Dan responded with
an exemplary performance. To quote from
the Racing Form official chart, Wise Dan “…drew even with the duelers 3/16ths
out, took command and widened on his own,” while establishing a new course
record of 1:31.75. One can only
speculate how fast he might have run had Velazquez asked him, but such was his
ease of victory on this day that breaking the 1:31 mark does not seem
improbable. He returned to the
comfortable confines of Keeneland where a repeat victory in the G1 Shadwell was
highly anticipated but, alas, was not to be.
Heavy rains forced the race off the turf and onto the Polytrack, an
occurrence that truly was not an issue for Dan who in fact loved the
surface. However, a slow, uncontested
pace by a very good horse and a 6 wide trip proved Dan’s undoing on this day,
proving too much for even Dan to overcome as he finished a very game and
steadily closing second. Following this
very unexpected loss, and with some individuals sensing possibly a slight chink
in the great horse’s armor, his final race for the 2013 season was again the G1
Breeder’s Cup Mile, held for a second consecutive year at Santa Anita. Stumbling at the break, Dan raced off the
pace early, then began his patented move around the final bend. Carried six wide turning for home and
cornering poorly, he lost several lengths at this juncture and straightening
for home it appeared he might have been left with too much to do by jockey Jose
Lezcano, substituting this day for the injured John Velazquez. At this moment Dan had to call upon all his
class and quality, had to reach deep into the well of greatness, and reach he
did! Almost visibly lowering his center
of gravity as he accelerated, with ears
pinned and eyes blazing, mighty Dan powered down the short Santa Anita stretch,
quickly closing the gap with his incredible burst of speed, collared the leader
about 70 yards from home, then drew comfortably clear as he hit the wire, the
mile run in 1:32.47. Another great year,
victorious in six of seven starts, with four G1 victories, two G2 wins, and a
second in another G1, culminating in a consecutive Breeder’s Cup Mile victory,
with year-end honors again including Champion Turf Horse, Older Male, and a
remarkable second Horse of the Year Eclipse.
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| At the wire, 2013 Maker's Mark Mile |
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| Celebration, 2013 Maker's Mark Mile |
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| DANcing in the rain, 2013 Firecracker Stakes |
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| Wet, but unfazed |
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| Post parade, 2013 Shadwell Mile...not this day |
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| The champion returns after 2013 Breeder's Cup Mile victory 20 hours earlier at Santa Anita |
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| Exercise rider Damion Rock proudly stands with the great one |
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| Back home! |
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| Spoils! |
A tough 2013-2014 Kentucky winter meant significant loss of
training time for all at Keeneland, and the opening of the 2014 Spring
Keeneland meet found Wise Dan, like many other permanent residents of the Rice
Road contingent, several weeks and several breezes short of where Charlie
Lopresti would like to have had him prior to his seasonal bow in the G1 Maker’s
Mark Mile. When your debut race is against
Grade 1 competition missed training time is especially critical. Charlie, however, hoped that Dan’s inherent
class would see him through.
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| Keeneland glory |
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| Dan and Damion |
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| Charlie...winter growth! |
Further,
Charlie was well aware of how Dan had
become “the people’s horse,” very aware that seeing him run was vitally
important to his fans as well as to the prestige and welfare of Keeneland Race
Course…so he ran, quietly hopeful that “class will prevail.” And prevail it did. Giving three to five pounds to the entire
field, including the very good Za Approval who had finished second to Dan in
the Breeder’s Cup Mile just five months previously, Dan turned in a highly
professional performance with jockey John Velazquez constantly looking back and
assessing his competition as he raced down the stretch, asking Dan for just
enough effort to get the task accomplished.
Winning by a measured length, the race was just what Dan needed after
being short on conditioning.
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| 2014 Maker's Mark Mile |
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| John Velazquez and Dan |
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| His blistering turn of foot again on display... |
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| The stick is put away... |
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| Reeve, Dan, and Kelly |
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| Profile of equine greatness |
Off this
race he was certainly now ready to give his best effort at a mile but,
unfortunately, the next race on the agenda for Dan was again the G1 Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill, contested at not the mile but 1 1/8 miles, again
a distance slightly beyond what Dan was primed to run at that particular
time. Breaking alertly from his one
hole, Velazquez quickly angled Dan off the hedge to avoid being trapped. An eager Wise Dan misinterpreted this as a
signal to “go” and attempted to take the lead.
There then ensued a brief power struggle between horse and rider as they
passed the stands the first time, with Velazquez finally getting Dan to settle
into third in a stalking position.
Turning for home Dan launched his challenge in earnest while circling
the leaders. At that very instant the G1
winner Seek Again, benefiting from a ground saving trip, found a perfect seam along
the inside and charged to the fore along the hedge. The two horses hit the lead almost
simultaneously, Seek Again accelerating along the hedge while Wise Dan raced nearer
the middle of the track, some three or four horse widths separating the two as
they charged down the stretch together while widening from the rest of the
field. Surely sensing fatigue from his
gallant steed, John Velazquez now did what he knew would incense and inflame
Wise Dan…he pulled on his left rein, dropping Dan down towards the rail, in so
doing bringing Dan immediately beside his younger foe. Looking his adversary now squarely in the eye
and sensing the impudence of this challenger, this grand champion reached down
deep within where only the greatest can go and found some magical power, some
incredible strength to overcome the fatigue, ignore the lactic acid
accumulation, defy the oxygen debt…and he surged, one last time…and victory was
his! Once again, facing defeat, he would
not be denied! This indomitable spirit,
this “rather die than lose” courage, again defying all logic. And that is why he, like only a handful of
horses in the history of the American Turf, is so very special!
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| Gut check! Both horses passed with flying colors, Seek Again, inside, battling gamely and just losing to Dan |
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| Nothing separating them... |
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| Synchronized racing! |
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| Eight off the ground, still nothing to separate them...but at the wire, Wise Dan by a nose, short this day on conditioning, as always long on class and courage...the indomitable spirit that refuses to lose! |
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| A very tired Wise Dan. He gave everything on the track |
“Nephrosplenic entrapment.”
It sounds ominous, and it is…and was for Wise Dan. May 16, 2014 was the day that Wise Dan and
all of those who care so much for him faced the grim reality that he had been
attacked by an adversary that for once even he could not look in the eye and
whip, could not brush up against and intimidate. This was a foe that struck absolute fear into
the hearts of family and fans alike, which brought tears to the eyes of the
Lopresti family and left a gaping hole in the hearts of all who had grown to
care so much for this grand horse, this one who had given us so much, and for
who we all felt now powerless to help.
But the racing gods were kind.
Charlie Lopresti and his racing family quickly recognized a potential
dire situation as Dan began his attack of colicky pain and immediately summoned
urgent veterinary assistance. The
veterinary staff of Rood and Riddle was equally excellent and up to the task,
making a much needed decision to operate, never a lightly undertaken decision
but even more difficult when you speak of the two time Horse of the Year. Perhaps it was fate, however, which was most
generous that ominous day, threatening tragedy but ultimately giving back to
Dan a little of what he had given to others.
At this very moment of most dire concern, that instant when the decision
to operate was made, his nephrosplenic entrapment unknowingly spontaneously
resolved, most probably occurring during the manipulations required to prepare
him for surgery. Unaware of this
changing circumstance the laparotomy was performed but, upon finding that the
internal herniation had resolved and the previously incarcerated bowel was healthy
and uncompromised, no resection of intestine was necessary. Within 24 hours the black pall over the
racing world began to lift as news filtered out that Dan had successfully
survived his surgery, this welcome news followed by reports that he was again eating
and behaving normally, then finally the awaited-for announcement that Dan
appeared to be out of immediate threat of complication. The racing world rejoiced with this
awareness, gladly accepting that the great one’s career was over, a small price
to pay for the belief that he would live to enjoy a long retirement. Then, the almost unthinkable…the announcement
came that he was back in training! Not
for a 2015 comeback, not even for a 2014 late fall campaign…but for summer,
2014, with Saratoga in his sights!
Incredible. And return to
training he did, and did so in such a manner that defied all logic, and Charlie Lopresti just shook his head in awe
and spoke of the wonder of this horse, this creature of apparent unlimited
strength and fortitude, this horse called Wise Dan.
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| Early days back after surgery...Amy talks with Damion Rock, outrider Dale Malory looks on beside Dan |
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| Initial baby steps to test the waters |
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| Admiration from Darley trainer, Johnny Burke, a man of great wisdom and experience, who knows a thing or two about a great horse and holds Wise Dan in his very highest esteem |
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| Morning bath, feels good! |
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| Dan with his long time groom |
On 8-30-2014, Wise Dan entered the starting gate for the
running of Saratoga’s G2 Bernard Baruch Stakes at 1 1/16th mile on the turf, a
mere106 days after undergoing an open laparotomy for colic caused by the
aforementioned nephrosplenic entrapment.
He was being asked to carry 127 pounds while conceding from 8-13 pounds
to his highly accomplished competitors…106 days after undergoing his
surgery! But we are speaking of Wise Dan
here, and of course he again prevailed, refusing to be defeated by an oncoming
Optimizer, looking that foe directly in the eye and prevailing at the wire by a
narrow margin. And what of the time in
his comeback race? Certainly this was
not the easy race one would hope for as he ran the 1 1/16th mile in
a blistering 1:39.08, less than one tick off the 23 year old track record set
by the wonderful Saratoga favorite, Fourstardave. What superlative does one use to describe
such heroics? Carrying on as this was
all commonplace, Wise Dan again returned to his home on Rice Road at Keeneland,
now to prepare for the $1,000,000 G1 Shadwell Mile, the first million dollar
race in the history of Keeneland.
Included among his opposition were Optimizer, defeated by only a nose by
Dan in his last out; Seek Again, who ran Dan to a very close finish in the
Woodford Reserve Classic in May of this same year; and Silver Max, the speed
horse who had upset Dan in this very race last season when the race was taken
off the turf. As misfortune would have
it, Dan again missed the break, stumbling as he accelerated from the gate,
while Silver Max again sprinted uncontested to the lead in a leisurely 24.58
and 48.27, fractions not at all taxing to a horse of his caliber, the race
threatening to be a replay of the previous year’s race. Johnny Velazquez quickly moved Dan into the
race, with Dan pulling hard behind the leading group as they entered the first
turn and moved down the backstretch.
Approaching the final turn and trapped behind a wall of horses,
Velazquez again chose the overland route and swung Wise Dan into the five lane
as they turned for home. Silver Max charged
down the lane and was still full of run after ¾ mile accomplished in a rather
leisurely 1:12.02. With five lengths to
make up and the length of the stretch to accomplish this, Velazquez set Dan
down for the drive. He did not pull out
his stick and flail away in desperation for Johnny realized he was aboard one
of the greatest horses in the history of American racing, a specialist miler
who is very probably the greatest American turf middle distance horse in
history, a turf miler as good as any to ever run in any land! You do not flail on such an animal, for that
beast is already giving you everything he has in those aging bones and muscles,
is drawing upon all of his experience in determining just how he will prevail,
for given the opportunity prevail he will and, to the wonder of all but
surprise of none, prevail he did, victorious by a rapidly widening length in
Keeneland’s first million dollar race! His eleventh G1 victory was now history.
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| Post parade, 2014 G1Shadwell Mile |
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| The best I'll ever see... |
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| One more time |
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| The patented charge to the finish |
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| Victorious once again |
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| These two....they wrote history together! |
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| Buddies! |
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| John Velazquez dismounts for his final time...but no one knew |
How could we ever doubt?
Would we never learn? We speak of
immortality here, for when we speak of Wise Dan we speak of as wonderful and
special a race horse as has ever lived and raced or likely will ever live or
race. Have there been more talented
horses, horses with more inherent running ability? Perhaps, even probably so. Have there been horses with comparable
courage, with an absolute necessity to prevail?
Perhaps, but if so only a rare few.
Have there been horses combining his rare talent with his equally rare
absolute need to win, the very exquisite of the exquisite? Such a list must be very, very short, and certainly
ultimately amounts to personal opinion.
Accepting that such conclusions are subjective, and as such truly counting
for nothing more than opinion, in my now rather lengthy lifetime such a list is
counted on the fingers of two hands.
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| The greatest horse to eer call Keeneland "home" departs for the final time after capturing his seventh graded Keeneland stake, four of which were of Grade One quality...highly unlikely to be seen again |
Several days after his Shadwell victory, his fourth G1 and
seventh graded stakes victory at Keeneland, Wise Dan was found to have a slight
filling in his right front fetlock. He
was not the least lame with this, the finding detected by Charlie on a routine
daily check. Subsequent evaluation
revealed this to be the result of a non-displaced fracture involving his right distal
cannon bone. How fortunate, and a
reflection of the quality of care given these horses, that his connections
detected the subtle changes associated with this injury because, unrecognized,
it may well have evolved into a very serious, even catastrophic, injury. The disappointment surrounding the announcement
of this season-ending, and possibly career-ending, injury was near palpable,
for Charlie had never been more confident entering into any Breeder’s Cup race
than he was in the immediate aftermath of the Shadwell Mile prior to discovery
of the occult fracture. Differences of
opinion were rampant following this announcement regarding the potential racing
future of Dan, but Charlie always left the door open to the possibility of a
return to the track depending of course upon the healing progress of this
fracture. Dan returned to the Lopresti
farm outside Athens where he spent the ensuing months “just being a horse,” growing out a furry
winter coat, rolling in mud, cavorting in a 17 acre field, while intermittently
exchanging cross-fence banter with his half-brother and near millionaire,
Successful Dan. Periodically a visit
with Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Veterinary Clinic occurred and with
this came of course an assessment of the healing process. With each visit the probability increased for
a return to the track.
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| The champ emerges from his barn into the morning winter air |
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| Dan and his girlfriend, Amy Lopresti |
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| Just what do they see when they look tis way? |
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| Looking to the future |
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| The look! |
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| Successful Dan, living the good life, with his...ahem, "lady friend!" |
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| Dan checks out his brother and girlfriend! |
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| What's all the fuss, Charlie? |
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| "We three...forever" |
Eventually the
harshness of winter began to soften, short days, overcast skies and long
shadows gradually giving way to the rebirth that is spring, and Dan was not
immune to this change. Indeed, the old
warrior, now a venerable eight years young, was soon giving every indication to
Charlie and Amy that he wanted to be at the track, that he was not yet prepared
for a life of leisure and play in the abundant, beautiful, rolling hills of the
Lopresti farm. Such retirement was to be
for another, later time. For now his
every mannerism cried out to them, there was training to be done, races to be
run, further glory to be achieved, Eclipse awards still to be won. And so, with optimistic trepidation, the
decision was made to honor the old boy’s request, and in early March 2015, Dan
returned to the track, again occupying stall eight in Barn 62 on Rice Road,
again to exchange stories and lies with his Rice Road buddies. Dan again was defying all the odds. Those of
us who loved the old man, and there are many, were filled with mixed emotion as
were Charlie and Amy, at one time thrilled at the prospect of once again seeing
the magnificent chestnut charging the stretch, ears pinned, tail flying while again
refusing to let any pretender challenge his throne, yet at the same time so
concerned about the wellness and safety of our hero, so aware of how he will
fight through any adversity and pain, fearful that his very spirit might become
his worst enemy…but mostly we were secretly thrilled!
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| Shortly after returning to Stall 8, Barn 62 at Keeneland |
The comeback process was, as imagined, very closely
monitored. The first weeks involved
merely walking the shedrow under tack, the riding responsibility on occasion gladly
performed by Amy Lopresti herself.
Repeated Rood and Riddle visits were undertaken, with Xrays and
soundness evaluations carried out under the supervision of Dr. Bramlage. Based upon these examinations a slow but
steady increase in Dan’s work load ensued.
Shed walking gave way to walking on the synthetic training track, this
in turn evolving into a month of alternating days of shed walking with jogging
on the training track. With continued
evidence of healing, this pattern was replaced with alternating trot-gallop
days and, when every indication suggested complete and safe healing, Dan was finally
allowed to return to a progressive, standard, training program including
unrestricted galloping on the main dirt track.
By the time this point had been reached, around the first week of July, Dan
had been back at the track for four months and had put in countless hours of
exercise under tack. That fact, combined
with the exceptional natural athleticism he embodies, resulted in him becoming
racing fit very quickly, likely sooner than any would have predicted. But, then again, he is Dan!
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| In the hillside roundpen adjacent to Lopresti barn |
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| Nothing like a good roll in the sand! |
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| Surveying all about from his hillside perch |
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| Carefully supervised while grazing |
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| To the training track |
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| Dan and the braintrust |
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| Kelly aboard Dan, and Amy aboard the pony...early jogging |
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| Jeff Thornbury, left, and Kim and Bonnie Heath admire Dan as he walks the shed |
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| Tender loving care |
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| Grabbing a bite while on the vibration plate |
After just two weeks of progressive galloping Dan’s
condition was such that Charlie felt he was clearly ready to breeze and, with
the cooperation of Keeneland, the turf track was made available to him for his
first breeze. Dan’s exercise rider of
the past several years, Damion Rock, had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery
during the winter and was not adequately convalesced to be riding at this
juncture. He and Wise Dan had formed a
wonderful team, with Damion being Dan’s rider throughout the seasons of Dan’s
greatest successes. With much cause
Charlie worried that he might not find a rider capable of handling the
strong-willed and exceptionally powerful son of Wiseman’s Ferry but to the
great fortune of Charlie Lopresti and Wise Dan, a rider of extraordinary
ability had recently re-located to Keeneland for the 2015 season. Jenn Patterson had worked with Shug McGaughey
for a number of years in the capacity not only of exercise rider but as
assistant trainer. During these years
she was the regular rider of many outstanding horses, notably Kentucky Derby
winner Orb and five time grade one winner Point of Entry among many others, and
had been given supervisory responsibilities for many of the regally bred horses
of the Phipps’ stable over this time span.
She was thus very familiar with the feel of a special horse and
enthusiastically accepted the rather daunting responsibility of working with
Wise Dan. Theirs proved to be a perfect
marriage. Quickly they formed a flawless
team, Jenn’s exceptional riding abilities working in unison with the powerful
and headstrong chestnut.
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| Dan with Jenn up, Amy and Charlie |
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| To the training track, with Frances Karon, pedigree guru, turf writer and photographer, following behind |
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| Dan, Jenn and Amy |
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| First open gallop |
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| Back to the barn, always checking for any sign of lameness |
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| Loving it! |
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| "Damn but I'm good lookin'" |
Dan’s gallops, always awe-inspiring with his
unbridled power, continued to be a thing of beauty to watch, with his early
morning warm up trots past the stands giving the look and feel of a finely
tuned dressage pairing. Dan’s first
breeze on the turf was effortless, and gave every indication that the old
fellow had lost nothing. He began a very
regular work schedule over the ensuing weeks, with long gallops, occasionally
exceeding two miles, punctuated with shorter gallops at a brisk two minute
clip, with timed breezes of progressive increasing distance interposed every
seven days. The works were strong, fast and
done with such ease that it became clear that Dan was rapidly approaching
racing fitness. A 5/8
th mile
breeze in company left his work mate 15 lengths behind. Another 5/8ths work was done in hand in
59.00 with a gallop out in 1:12. A
3/4ths mile breeze was completed effortlessly in 1:14 with gallop out in 1:26
and change. Very soon the big horse was
ready and Charlie penciled in his debut race.
Wise Dan had already proven he loved the Woodbine turf course, and
Charlie decided the $1,000,000 G1 Woodbine Mile, a race Dan had already won on
two previous occasions, would be his target.
With a huge sweeping turf course unmatched in North America, the one
turn mile featured a home stretch of some 1400 feet, more than ¼ mile for Dan
to find his way through or around the crowd in the charge down the stretch. After a move of 5/8ths mile in 59.00 with an
exceptionally strong gallop out, Charlie decide he would gallop Dan up to his
anticipated debut on September 13. He
was delighted with his physical condition.
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| Best impersonation of a dressage horse |
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| Poetry in motion |
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| Wide open gallop on main track |
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| Perfect team |
Following the work a final exam from Dr. Bramlage found the
fracture to be perfect, with absolutely no indication of any problems being
present. Plans were made to depart
Keeneland around 4 PM on Thursday, September 10 and to travel to Toronto during
the cool of the night, planning to arrive at Woodbine in the early morning
hours of Friday, September 11. Dan would
gallop on the turf course on Saturday, school in the paddock during the
afternoon races, and be ready for war on Sunday. But fate had another plan. After a strong gallop on Monday, September 7,
Charlie was observing Dan getting his bath when he detected a very slight
filling in his near front flexor tendon.
One can only imagine the dreadful feeling that must have come over him
at that instant of recognition.
Summoning his veterinarian, an ultrasound confirmed Charlie’s worst
fears, the study revealing evidence of a very slight tear on the outside of the
distal aspect of the superficial flexor tendon.
After all Dan had been through on his road back, his fairy tale story
was here destined to be derailed by the earliest signs of an impending bowed
tendon. The fractured distal right cannon
bone, the source of so much concern, remained perfect throughout, healed to the
point where it was no longer a concern.
The tendon injury was detected at the earliest possible stage and, in
fact, the slight swelling associated with the injury had virtually fully
resolved within 24 hours…but the hidden damage was there and known, the evidence irrefutable, and could not be denied. A telephone conversation was carried out with
Dan’s owner, Morton Fink, and at this time Charlie recommended that the time
had come to retire the grand old horse, and Mr. Fink was quick to agree. Was Dan a younger horse time alone may have
healed the injury and allowed a return to racing at his previous level, so
slight were the findings on the ultrasound.
But time is no longer Dan’s friend, and there comes that moment in the
career of all horses, great and not so great, when it is time to say “enough,”
and sadly that time is now for the great Wise Dan. Communicating with Charlie one felt his
anguish over being so close, but his pain was not for him but was for this horse
that he truly loves. Though fully
understanding that with his impeccable resume Dan owed nothing to racing, as
the dream of Dan’s return grew closer to becoming a reality Charlie wanted Dan
to one more time display his greatness for all to see. In spite of all his accomplishments he felt
there was still a minority of horse people who failed to grasp the significance
of Dan’s achievements. Charlie expressed
his love and understanding of his great friend best when he said, after I had
expressed my condolences, “…we are so sad because this is what he loves. I feel bad for him…he won’t understand why he
can’t go to the track tomorrow.” After
reading fan commentary in which there was such an outpouring of love and
respect for his champion, Charlie went on to say, “I cried all day after I read
the stories.” He went on to say, “He
will remain at Keeneland through all his after care. He is very special and he is happy. He will (then) go with his (half) brother
(Successful Dan) and they will never want for anything. His tendon is already better today.” Charlie, if you can imagine, then thanked me
for “recognizing his greatness…we are so proud of him.” A very humble man, an outstanding horseman
who, through patience and understanding and listening to his horse, created the
wonder that was and will always be, Wise Dan.
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| Charlie with his special one... |
And so it is that Dan now retires with all the dignity and
honor that he so richly deserves. His
exemplary resume includes 31 starts, with 23 victories and two seconds. Included here are 19 graded victories; 11
G1s, six G2s, and two G3s. Of these,
seven graded victories have taken place at Keeneland, with four being of Grade
1 quality. These numbers have never been
approached by any horse in the history of Keeneland and, in all probability,
will never be threatened. Throughout his
entire career Dan has resided under the care of Charlie Lopresti on the Keeneland
backstretch. Wise Dan didn’t just come
in to Keeneland for the occasional race and then leave. Keeneland was his home, and has been for his
entire career. He didn’t go to sunny
Florida in December to escape the Kentucky winters, though he would go and
spend a couple of months of rest and relaxation with Charlie and Amy Lopresti
on their farm in nearby Athens. No horse
in the storied history of Keeneland has meant so much to this track or to this
racing community. He symbolizes all that
is good and wonderful, not only about racing in general, but Keeneland in
particular. When Keeneland and its
Polytrack was under so much attack by others throughout the industry, the
quieting response could always be, “Wise Dan surely seems to do quite well with
it. If it’s good enough for Dan, we
suspect it just might be fine for you as well!”
By his very presence on race days he brought a level of excitement and
anticipation that had never before been seen at this track. His anticipated races became the highlight of
each meet such had become his following, other races quietly relegated to near
secondary importance regardless of their stature. His upcoming races were discussed for days
prior to, and for weeks following, their running, superlative after superlative
typically forthcoming. Younger race
fans, perhaps not quite capable of fully comprehending the historical magnitude
of his accomplishments, nonetheless became excited by his brilliance and
courage and captivated by his physical majesty.
Older, more knowledgeable fans were continually amazed and enthralled by
his wonder, knowingly smiling as they shook their heads in confirmation, for
this was not their first rodeo and they well understood the rarity and
specialness of this grand chestnut gelding.
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| Reeve and Wise Dan |
Add caption |
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| Amy and Dan capture some golden rays of early morning |
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| Morning glory |
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| Amy and her "other" man |
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| The Triumvirate...Charlie, Dan, and Amy |
What could be more appropriate than to have a life size
monumental statue of this horse standing at Keeneland, proudly and prominently
displayed for all to gaze upon, to allow reflection and serve as a reminder
certainly of his past greatness but, perhaps more importantly, to also serve as
an inspiration to future generations of what once was and what again might
be? His like will very unlikely pass our
way again, certainly not in my lifetime.
Wise Dan represents all that is wonderful about Keeneland and he has
nobly served as its greatest ambassador now for the past five years. Though steeped in tradition, it has
interestingly never been the Keeneland way to honor individual achievement
through any form of lasting memorial.
The time would now appear appropriate for this to change. Change is difficult, and is usually accorded
only under the most unusual of circumstances.
Such a circumstance is clearly now upon us, this being the gift of
sustained excellence and consequent renown afforded Keeneland by the near
heroic accomplishments of Keeneland’s own Wise Dan. It appears now proper and the time most
appropriate for Keeneland to repay in kind and grant him this most special of
honors. Wise Dan has earned this. He is truly the people’s horse, loved and
deeply respected, even revered, not only in the Bluegrass of Central Kentucky
but throughout this entire nation and beyond.
One only had to listen to the resonating, thunderous applause from the
crowd that greeted him as he returned from his final Shadwell victory, or understand
that the cheers and exultations surrounding this victory were no less raucous
on that day in the grandstand at Belmont Park in celebration of this victory,
or know of the jubilation that took place in McCarthy’s pub on his victorious
return in the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga.
Such outpouring of affection can only lead to the realization that the
recognition of Wise Dan with such a monumental statue may well prove to be the
most popular innovation perhaps ever put forth by Keeneland. We understand that it is the nature of life
and of horse racing that generations of
people will come, make their contribution, then move on; brilliant
horses will appear, exciting two and three year olds who will get the blood
churning and the heart racing, but ultimately they too will move through and
pass on; renewal after renewal of Keeneland’s most prestigious races will be
run, the winners accordingly recorded in the racing annals, but here too over the
passage of time such worthy performances will be relegated to fascinating
historical footnotes. But, through all
these times and occurrences, certain constants will eventuate. First our children, then our children’s
children, and even their children, will enter the hallowed grounds of Keeneland
with the opportunity to be captivated, to fall in love with this place,
with these magnificent horses, with this
grand sport, just as did we when we too were so young. And as they look upon this wondrous place
imagine, if you will, how they will slowly turn to gaze upon this place while
their young minds and imagination assimilate the beauty and mystique of
Keeneland. Then, perhaps drawn by the
flickering of reflected golden sunshine, they will suddenly come upon the most
glorious sight of the magnificent bronzed horse, perched high upon his pedestal
while commanding his domain of all within this august Keeneland paddock. And one by one these children will walk to
this horse, stand at its base, and look heavenly to this near mystical
beast. And they will implicitly
understand that this horse was so very special, will learn of his name then,
with the wonder and innocence of youth, will ask of their parent or
grandparent, “Tell me about this very special horse, this great horse named
Wise Dan”…and another youngster will come under the spell of Wise Dan and will
fall in love with Keeneland, the Thoroughbred, and this most wonderful of all
sports. And what better legacy could we leave our children than that?
It was shortly following the announcement of Wise Dan’s
fracture in November of 2014, and with the high likelihood of his permanent
retirement confronting us, that the case for a life size bronze statue of Wise
Dan being erected at Keeneland was first presented. An informal poll of horse men and women suggested overwhelming support for the idea and thus, with this encouragement from the racing community, a detailed proposal for such an undertaking was prepared with the most able assistance of one of America's foremost equine sculptors. Courteous audience was afforded during this
presentation to Keeneland but, before any meaningful dialogue could occur, the improbability
of the proposal became clear when notification was given that Keeneland has an
actual policy, apparently within its bylaws, which would not allow such an
honor for any horse nor any individual.
The presentation fell, therefore, on courteous but quite inflexible
ears. The brief meeting concluded, written materials were left supporting Dan’s case, and it was said that the proposal
would be given appropriate consideration in due time. Unfortunately, some ten months have now passed and nothing more was ever heard from Keeneland regarding this proposal.
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| Wise Dan |
The erection of a monumental statue honoring Wise Dan seems
so very appropriate, especially of course for Keeneland, but also for the
benefit of the entire racing world. Many
people within the racing community have expressed their full support for such a
plan. Wise Dan owned this fabled race
course and Keeneland and its fans adopted him in turn, and forever more Wise
Dan belongs to Keeneland and his legion of followers. I would hope that this proposal may be
revisited and true consideration be given to the worthiness of such a
project. If indeed bylaws do exist which currently do not allow for such individual honors to be bestowed, then perhaps such bylaws can be re-visited. Let us hope that the powers
that control such issues will see the great wisdom in such a decision, a wisdom
that will be applauded for countless generations to follow.
Murray D. West
Paris, Ky.
9-20-2015
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