Wise dan, saratoga special and adirondack headline spa weekend. Fourstardave handicap 20 at saratoga race course off. Wise dan totes 128 pounds as chalk in firecracker handicap. Thoroughbred pedigree for wise dan, progeny, and female family reports from the thoroughbred horse pedigree query. The firecracker, a churchill downs stakes that wise dan won twice, was renamed in his honor and run as the wise dan stakes for the first time in 2016. Wise dan race record was extensive and included many, many grade 1 wins. In the words of his trainer charles lopresti, wise dan is a pretty special horse who loves to run. Trained by charlie lopresti, the sensational son of wisemans ferry was a fivelength winner in this race a. He also was a decorated racer with a lot of honors and eclipse awards. Jun 27, 20 the firecracker, a onemile turf event that wise dan won in 2011 while shouldering 115, headlines churchills saturday night program. Racing a mile on the yielding turf at churchill downs in a driving rainstorm, the 4yearold colt by first samurai raced forwardly from the start, then split horses inside the 316s pole and finished with a strong run, beaten only two lengths. Wise dan race record wise dan thorougbred racehorse. Wise dan wins the 20 breeders cup mile rick samuels. Wise dan ranks among legends as repeat horse of the year.
Wise dan is one of racings greatest champions, and its an honor to welcome him. He is the first horse to win the same three eclipse awards in consecutive years, having been named american horse of the year, champion older male and champion male turf horse in 2012 and 20. And how great is it to have the twotime winner of the firecracker handicap here on fourth of july weekend. Wise dan won the 20 firecracker handicap in a june 29 downpour at churchill downs. Wise dan without a scratch after firecracker horse racing. Jun 30, 20 with 2012 firecracker runnerup seruni and long shot ol army going to the lead, wise dan was just behind while breaking on the hedge.
Wise dan foaled february 20, 2007 is a champion american thoroughbred racehorse. Wise dan s firecracker was reminiscent of some special races in which a superior horse faced conditions that provided every. Wise dan gallops to course record in woodbine mile brisnet. First of all, i wish to make it clear that i am not among those who believe that wise dan is in any way a faux champion. In a racing career which began in 2010, he has won nineteen graded. Wise dan wins firecracker handicap, as expected usa today.
Wise dan overcomes traffic in dramatic firecracker. Welcome to, your official source for horse racing results, mobile racing data, statistics as well as all other horse racing and thoroughbred racing information. Horse of the year wise dan continued his winning ways. Jan 05, 2016 wise dan won the 20 firecracker handicap in a june 29 downpour at churchill downs.
Successful dan will let wise dan stay with him for a minute, and then. Horse of the year wise dan with john velazquez wins the firecracker handicap gr. Wise dan holds the record for the most career graded stakes wins at keeneland with seven. Should handicappers worry about weight assignments. Jul 06, 2019 wise dan on the turf course at santa anita park on october 31, 20. He won saturday night% 27s soggy firecracker handicap at churchill downs. Wise dan is fiveforfive in 20, with victories in the april 12 makers 46 mile, may 4 woodford reserve turf classic, june 28 firecracker and the august 10 fourstardave en route to woodbine. Over a period of nine days, for example, from july 26 through august 3, the curlin stakes, jim dandy, ohio derby, haskell, prelude and west virginia derby will. Still, having to overcome a monstrous 128 pound impost giving an 11 to pound advantage to each of his competitors, a yielding. Originally named the firecracker stakes when it started in 1983, the firecracker took a break from 1985 to 1993 and was bumped to one mile on the turf instead of seven furlongs on dirt. Feb 20, 2020 wise dan developed a liking for turf, recording victories in the woodbine mile, shadwell mile and the breeders cup mile where he beat kentucky derby and dubai world cup winner animal kingdom. Find everything you need to know about horse racing at. Wise dan, a 6yearold gelding, has done nothing wrong in 20, winning both starts, the grade i makers 46 mile at keeneland and the woodford reserve turf classic at.
Churchilldownsjune29 firecracker image324 photo by anne m. Wise dan overcame 128 pounds, and some rough race riding through the hedge at churchill downs, to take the firecracker handicap last out by two lengths. On october 5, he started 12 favorite to win his second shadwell turf mile stakes, a race which was switched to the synthetic track at keeneland after heavy rain made the turf course unraceable. Three scratches meant 2012 horse of the year wise dan only had four horses to beat in the grade 2 firecracker handicap. If you have any questions about the h2w list, send them to us through the twinspires blog. Wise dan looks vulnerable in the firecracker posted jun 29, 20 by derek simon first of all, i wish to make it clear that i am not among those who believe that wise dan is in any way a faux champion. Wise dans churchill downs success also included victories in the woodford reserve turf classic gi in 2014, and memorable runs on the main track that. He ran from 3 years old in 2010, to 7 years old 2014. The track announced thursday the race will no longer be a handicap, where weights are assigned to entrants in. Videos 5 fanfavorite wise dan performances before retirement. Wise dan s churchill downs success also included victories in the woodford reserve turf classic gi in 20. By claire novak for toronto, september 11 head out of lexington on richmond road, drive slow through the barely there. Wise dan exits firecracker victory without a scratch, dirt in. But upon looking at the past performances for saturdays.
Churchill downs renames spring meet stakes for wise dan. Wise dan proved a triplesurface threat in 2011, winning the firecracker in his turf debut, and adding the presque isle mile on tapeta, before romping in the fayette over keenelands polytrack. Wise dan squeezes out soggy firecracker win reigning horse of the year battles at hedge to win smartly at rainy churchill downs. Battling hard on a wet, soggy churchill turf course in the 20 woodford reserve turf classic stakes. Wise dan, a chestnut kentuckybred 6yearold gelded son of wisemans ferry out of the productive wolf powersaf mare lisa danielle, is the first horse to win the firecracker twice.
Two things concern me about wise dan in the grade ii firecracker. By valerie grash, hello race fans contributing editor. Wise dan wins his first of two firecracker handicaps, a race at churchill downs that is now. The wise dan stakes, formerly known as the firecracker handicap, is an american. On yielding turf and in driving rain, wise dan slipped through on the hedge, absorbing a bump and a brush with. The firecracker, a onemile turf event that wise dan won in 2011 while shouldering 115, headlines churchills saturday night program. Lea runnerup to wise dan in firecrackerg2 claiborne. In his only other start of 20, he won the makers 46 mile gi on the turf at keeneland by a length. Horse of the year wise dan overcomes obstacles to win. Jun 26, 20 mort finks homebred wise dan enters the firecracker off a 4. The first time i computed his pace figures, i knew he was something special.
At his best, wise dan was a horse who didnt know how to lose. Making his second start of the year, lea put in a gallant effort to finish runnerup to horse of the year wise dan in the firecracker h. Lovely win on a sunny day at saratoga in the fourstardave handicap. The firecracker which was inaugurated in 1991 was renamed for the two time champ wise dan this year. Firecracker handicap headlines page 1 of 1 bloodhorse. On june 29, wise dan attempted to win the firecracker. Velazquez, wins the firecracker handicap horse race. Wise dan pops in first turf start, wins firecracker handicap horse. Heck, the reigning horse of the year was 15 against inferior competition but he certainly showed his. Finding an opening skimming the hedge to take the 20 firecracker handicap. Jack shinar begins his article by stating, theres no doubt hes the best horse in the race, but. Wise dan at old friends saturday, july 6, 2019 rick capone. Wise dan overcomes traffic in dramatic firecracker horse.
Last time out was a decent second in the grade 2 firecracker handicap behind wise dan at churchill downs june 29 after two straight wins the best of which coming in the grade 3 commonwealth turf stakes in november. On yielding turf and in driving rain, wise dan slipped through on the hedge, absorbing a bump and a brush with the greenery in a race also noteworthy for producing. Wise dan and jockey john velazquez are the current favorite for the 20 firecracker handicap with 25 odds. He was ridden in both of those starts by jose lezcano, but hall of fame jockey john velazquez has the call saturday.
Horse of the year wise dan overcomes obstacles to win adventurous grade ii firecracker handicap at churchill downs racetrack. On january 5, 2016, churchill downs announced that it was renaming its firecracker handicap usaiit in honor of wise dan, who made the firecracker his first stakes win on turf in 2011. Horse of the year wise dan headlines 23rd firecracker. On september 15, 20, wise dan won his ninth consecutive race by taking the grade i woodbine mile for the second time in succession, breaking the track record when he came home in 1. Wise dan won the horse of the year award in 2012, as well.
Wise dan, a winner of six major stakes races in the united states and canada last year, was named the 20 horse of the year saturday evening at the 43rd eclipse awards, presented by daily racing form, breeders cup and the stronach group. Id really like to keep him undefeated and id like to win a grade 1 on dirt. Following a troubled, rainsoaked trip in the grade 2 firecracker handicap last week, dick jerardi wrote for the daily racing form that wise dan s critics ought to take a seat until years end. The firecracker handicap takes place saturday june 29, 20 at churchill downs in. Bred by his owner morton fink, this 5yearold chestnut gelded son of wisemans ferry had very special years in 2012 and 20, winning 10 graded stakes races on dirt and turf in kentucky, new york, canada and finally in california, where he won back to back editions of the. For reservations or additional information contact the main farm at 502 8631775. Wise dan looks vulnerable in the firecracker posted jun 29, 20 by derek simon. That was pounds more than when the wisemans ferry gelding captured the 2011 running by 2 34 lengths. Horse of the year wise dan breezed a bullet halfmile on the polytrack at keeneland june 22 in. In 2016, the race was renamed to the wise dan stakes after twotime horse of the year wise dan, who won the race in 2011 and 20 and changed to 1 116 miles 8. Wise dan bounced along to a 234length victory in the firecracker handicap gii, and he then claimed the presque. Churchilldownsjune29 firecracker image233 photo by anne m. Jun 26, 20 horse of the year wise dan headlines 23rd firecracker handicap at churchill downs racetrack.
Wise dan was supposed to win the firecracker handicap last weekend at churchill downs. Churchill downs officials on tuesday released the stakes schedule for their 2016 spring meet, with the most notable change being the renaming of the former firecracker handicap in honor of wise. Wise dan took a liking to the lawn in his first turf start, running away late to capture the grade 2. Tomorrow, wise dan will be present to witness the first ever wise dan stakes. With 2012 firecracker runnerup seruni and long shot ol army going to the lead, wise dan was just behind while breaking on the hedge. In 2011 and 20, wise dan won the grade 2 firecracker handicap at churchill downs. Wise dan is prepping for a star in the breeders cup mile.
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