Wise Dan Tunes Up for Breeders' Cup in Shadwell Turf Mile

Wise Dan is the two-time reigning Horse of the Year. He spent part of the summer recovering from colic surgery in May, has won 14 straight races on turf and by some accounts is the most interesting horse in the world. 

On Saturday, he is the headliner at Keeneland as the 4-5 morning-line favorite for the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race. The winner earns an all-expenses-paid trip to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

The gelding is the early betting favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, currently at 19-10, according to the latest betting odds at OddsShark.com.

Wise Dan owner Morton Fink probably does not need an all-expenses-paid trip, as the gelding has won 22 of his 30 career starts with earnings of nearly $7 million. The gelding has won the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Mile and is seeking to become just the second horse in history to win the race three times, following in the hoof steps of the great Goldikova.

The gelding was dominant last year, winning six of seven starts with his lone loss coming in the Shadwell Turf Mile, where he was second behind Silver Max. Due to rain, the race was washed off the turf and contested on the Polytrack surface.

His 2014 campaign started with a victory in the Makers 46 Mile (G1) at Keeneland, and then he beat Seek Again by just a head in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Just two weeks later, the gelding was at Root and Riddle Equine Hospital undergoing emergency colic surgery.

He made it back to the track at Saratoga on Aug. 30, holding off Optimizer by a nose in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2).

He faces seven foes on Saturday including familiar faces Silver Max, Seek Again and Optimizer in what may be one of his toughest tests to date.

However, his trainer Charles LoPresti is very confident going into the race. "He is just an amazing horse,” he told Claire Novak of Bloodhorse.com. “He is about as good as I can get him."

LoPresti is not concerned about the prospect of less-than-firm turf. "It looks like we are going to get rain (this weekend), and that doesn't bother me," the trainer said. "He has run in a bog before; done it a couple of times."

The race will be televised live on NBC Sports Network, with the 90-minute telecast getting underway at 4:40 p.m. ET. Also to be televised live are the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and the $400,000 First Lady (G1).

Here is a look at the field for the Shadwell Turf Mile in post position order:

1. Sayaad (12-1): The colt has some early speed and the rail. He was fourth in the Bernard Baruch in his last start, getting beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Wise Dan. His best effort came in his win in the Forbidden Apple at Belmont Park in July, which was over yielding ground.

2. Optimizer (12-1): This five-year-old was gaining on Wise Dan in the stretch in the Bernard Baruch and came up just a nose shy of beating him. The effort was off a four-month layoff. It was a career-best effort, but he comes into this race riding a 10-race losing streak.

3. Grand Arch (12-1): The gelding was only beaten three lengths in the Woodbine Mile (G1) last out after a wide trip. Two back in the Fourstardave Handicap (G2), he battled gamely to come up just a neck shy of beating Seek Again. He may end up getting overlooked in the betting.

4. Silver Max (9-2): One horse has beaten Wise Dan in the last two years, and this is the guy. However, the Dale Romans trainee is coming in off a subpar effort in the Fourstardave, where he faded to finish sixth. He has won 10 of 19 starts on grass and will be the one to catch.

5. Kaigun (10-1): The gelding caught some traffic troubles in his closing second in the Woodbine Mile in a solid effort. He finished behind Wise Dan in back-to-back races this spring but was beaten less than a length in the Makers 46 Mile and 1 1/2 lengths in the Joe Hirsch.

6. Wise Dan (4-5): Some say he is not as dominant as in past years, but it did not look as if he was fully cranked in his last start and still managed to get the win in the Bernard Baruch. While it may be tempting to try and beat him at a short price, he is going to be really tough if he runs his race.

7. Two Notch Road (50-1): A winner of a state-bred race at Laurel Park in his last start at 5 1/2 furlongs, he looks badly overmatched in this spot. He does have some early speed and on the stretch-out figures to be in the mix early. He could make things tough for Silver Max during the first half mile.

8. Seek Again (7-2): Despite a tough trip he was able to get up and win the Fourstardave last out. He has won two of his four starts since landing in the U.S. and was only beaten by Wise Dan by a head in the Joe Hirsch. If the champ does not run his race, this guy seems the logical one to win, but as the likely second choice in the race, he may not end up offering much value for the top spot.

Selections: Wise Dan – Seek Again – Grand Arch

Morning-line odds courtesy of Equibase.

Follow Michael Dempsey on Twitter @turfnsport