Two-Time Horse of the Year Wise Dan Retired
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Wise Dan winning the 2013 Breeders' Cup Mile. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who was scheduled to make his 2015 return in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile next weekend has been retired, according to a press release sent out by Woodbine.
Wise Dan had been on the sidelines due to an ankle injury since last October while preparing for the Breeders’ Cup Mile after winning the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. The gelding won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2012 and 2013, setting a track record in the 2012 edition of the race, and the plan was to aim him for a third victory in the race later this year.
"He'd been training lights out. But, we noticed some filling in his tendon this morning when we were giving him a bath," said Charlie LoPresti, the gelding's trainer. "The vet suggested we scan it and it turns out he has a tear on the outside edge of his tendon."
Wise Dan retires with a streak of 14 consecutive wins on the turf, dating back to Aug. 12, 2012, when he won his first Fourstardave Handicap, a race he would win twice in his career. A six-time Eclipse award winner, Wise Dan won 11 Grade 1 races in his career with at least one stakes victory every year he raced.
2012 BREEDERS’ CUP MILE
Video courtesy of Breeders’ Cup World Championships
Even though he is the most successful racehorse produced by the mare Lisa Danielle, she was anything but a one-hit producing wonder. Wise Dan’s older half-brother Successful Dan was a multiple grade two winner who set a track record on the dirt at Churchill Downs in the Alysheba and his half-sister Our Royal Dancer won the West Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth. Wise Dan’s half-sister Enchanting Lisa is graded stakes placed and set a new track record at Keeeland.
Wise Dan will be reunited with his half-brother Successful Dan, who was also trained by Charlie LoPresi and owned-bred by Morton Fink, in retirement.
"Mr. Fink and I talked about it and we've all decided he should be retired at this age. There's no point trying to bring him back again," said LoPresti. "I expect he'll retire to our farm here in Kentucky. He'll be turned out with his brother Successful Dan."
Wise Dan retires with over $7.5-million in earnings and 23 wins from 31 starts with only six off-the-board finishes in his career.
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