HRN: The End of an Era: Wise Dan and Charlie LoPresti

Note of thanks: Thank you, Mr. LoPresti for being so kind to me throughout Wise Dan's career. From the time I spent at the barn during the 2013 Breeders' Cup and standing in the winner's circle after Wise Dan's win to the time I spent around your barn at Keeneland both times I was there this year, I have memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

The End of an Era: Wise Dan and Charlie LoPresti

"A chestnut gelding hung his head over the stall door, his bright eyes enamored by the sight of another Thoroughbred. This other horse, with a rider aboard, made its way towards the training track for its morning exercise. The chestnut extended his neck, intently staring at the other horse as if he was jealous. And he probably was.

But this was by no means an ordinary gelding. He was the recipient of six Eclipse Awards, including two Horse of the Year titles, the earner of $7,552,920 million, the winner of two Breeders’ Cup Miles, and the heartthrob of American turf racing. His name: Wise Dan.

The nameplate of his halter read “LoPresti Stable.” Now eight years old, the Morton Fink homebred has spent his life under the care of trainer Charlie LoPresti, who has also conditioned a number of Wise Dan’s siblings – other offspring of his dam, Lisa Danielle.

Standing outside his stall on a chilly, rainy morning in early October, LoPresti gazed at the now-retired racehorse that has taken him on the journey of a lifetime. It was opening weekend at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., LoPresti’s home base and the track at which Wise Dan captured seven of his lifetime wins – including four Grade 1s.  . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: The Respect Wise Dan Deserves

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

The Respect Wise Dan Deserves

"Wise Dan never ran in a Triple Crown race. He has never raced in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). He has not competed on dirt since June 2012. He has never raced at a distance longer than a mile and one-eighth. Wise Dan is certainly not the traditional "ideal" American racehorse, but despite this, he is the reigning two-time Horse of the Year.

Absent since his second consecutive win in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita in November, Wise Dan made his long-awaited return to the races in the Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (gr. I) yesterday at Keeneland, aiming to defend his title in the race, which marked his post-Breeders' Cup return last year as well. The competition against which Wise Dan has competed is often criticized, but on Friday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky, the six-time Eclipse Award winner encountered the likes of the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. I) winner Lochte, the multiple graded stakes-winning Za Approval (who was second to Wise Dan in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Mile), and the graded stakes-placed runnersGentleman's Kitten and Kaigun. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Wise Dan Prepares for Breeders' Cup Mile Defense

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Wise Dan Prepares for Breeders' Cup Mile Defense

"Wise Dan stood in his stall serenely, one leg cocked as he struggled to keep his eyes open. The window at the back of his stall cast a beam of sunlight over his back, offering him warmth in the brisk air of the morning. Those outside his stall spoke of him in admiration and respect, but he paid no attention to these mere humans. They could look at him in awe all they wanted; he was used to it.

'You can’t bother him,' trainer Charlie LoPresti commented. 'He’s about as laid-back as can be.'

An hour later, a crowd of photographers and reporters stood outside the barn in which he was stabled. Suddenly, the 2012 Horse of the Year emerged, the sunlight glinting off his copper coat. After walking a few ovals around a dirt path outside the barn, LoPresti gave a leg up to Damien Rock, the regular exercise rider of the 6-year-old gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

Villandry: Full of Potential

Villandry
Photo by Terri Cage

Without a doubt, the most famous chestnut gelding in Charlie Lopresti’s barn is Wise Dan, reigning Horse of the Year and six-time grade one winner. But lurking in the shadows is another stunning chestnut – one that could easily pass as Wise Dan if one didn’t know better. His name is Villandry.

A homebred for Gainesway, Villandry debuted as a juvenile in September of 2011 at Saratoga, facing six rivals in a five and one-half-furlong maiden special weight over a sealed sloppy track. A slow break from the gate compromised his chances and although he pursued the leader, he floundered in the mud, finishing fourth. Encountering an off track yet again in his second start, this time at Belmont, Villandry was bumped at the start and never found his best stride, disappointing with a last-place finish.

Villandry did not race again for ten months, returning in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight on the turf horses for three-year-olds and older horses. Despite his long layoff, he came back better than ever, displaying a remarkable turn of foot as he made a rally along the outside on the far turn. Closing from far off the pace, Villandry exhibited notable determination to prevail by a nose despite traveling widest of all.

A return to Saratoga resulted in yet another fourth-place finish. However, this time he was facing much tougher company in an allowance optional claiming event going a mile and three-sixteenths over the lawn. The winner of the race was Optimizer, whose next start would be a 4 ¼-length victory in the Kent Stakes (GIII). Villandry managed to finish just 4 lengths behind the multiple graded stakes winner and left behind him the likes of the group/graded stakes winners Animal Spirits and Noll Wallop, as well as the stakes-placed runners Devon Rock and Tiz Moe.

Since that respectable Saratoga effort, Villandry has seemed to mature, winning his two most recent starts. Nearly two months after running fourth to Optimizer, Villandry defeated six opponents in a nine-furlong allowance over Keeneland’s synthetic surface, closing from near the rear of the field yet again. Forced to be patient around the far turn when blocked by a wall of horses, Julien Leparoux found room along the inside for his mount, urging Villandry to charge through the opening. The chestnut gelding responded, accelerating effortlessly to draw away to a 2 ½-length triumph as Leparoux ceased any asking in the final yards, gearing down the son of Mr. Greeley.

Villandry working at Keeneland
Photo by Terri Cage

Returning to the turf in a nine-furlong allowance at Churchill Downs, Villandry raced mid-pack as two horses opened up an ample lead on the remainder of the field down the backstretch. Gaining ground around the second bend, Villandry posed as a major threat as the turn gave way to the homestretch. Racing wide, Villandry found his best stride at the top of the lane, seizing the lead outside the eighth pole as his powerful strides carried him away from his competitors. The gelding finished 3 lengths clear of the runner-up, Cyber Secret, who would soon win a pair of graded stakes. Also finishing behind Villandry was the stakes winner Unstoppable U. The final time was a noteworthy 1:47.55, with Villandry completing the final furlong in just under 12 seconds.

Villandry has not raced since his impressive win at Churchill Downs and has only had one work in the past sixty days, which took place at Keeneland on July 16. However, having been present for that work, as well as having been able to watch him gallop the two days after that breeze, it is safe to say that Villandry – who seemed to piece together the puzzle last fall – remains a grand-looking athlete.

While I was able to observe Villandry over a span of three mornings at Keeneland, it was clear that the gelding carries himself with class. It will be exciting to see how he returns to the races, where he will hopefully pick up where he left off.

Pedigree Musings

Villandry is a son of Mr. Greeley, who has also sired the likes of the grade/group one winners Aruna, El Corredor, Finsceal Beo, Nonsuch Bay, and Reel Buddy. A son of Gone West, Mr. Greeley shares his sire with several other successful stallions, including Came Home, Elusive Quality, Grand Slam, Johar, Proud Citizen, and Speightstown. This is the prolific Mr. Prospector sire line, which has produced an astounding number of champions, including six Horse of the Year honorees in the United States.

The bottom side of Villandry’s pedigree is abounding with international influences, primarily British and French Thoroughbreds. Although his dam, Al Beedaa was born in the United States, she is by the Irish-bred champion Swain and out of the French-bred mare Histoire. Al Beedaa is a half-sister to Erhaab, winner of the Epsom Derby (GI), as well as the Italian champion Oumaldaaya, the stakes-winning Hispanolia, and the graded stakes-placed Hittias. Though Al Beedaa has yet to produce a stakes horse, her half-sisters have found success in doing so, as they are the dams of the group stakes-winning Chaibia, the graded stakes-winning Haami, and the stakes-winning Wadi Rum. This makes Villandry a direct descendant of the female family of the Reine De Course mares Marchetta, Rose Red, and Rosetta.

Villandry’s maternal grandsire, Swain, is also the broodmare sire of the group stakes winner Akmal and the stakes-placed Rosen Opera. The Mr. Greeley/Blushing Groom sire line cross on which Villandry is bred is the same that produced the multiple stakes winner You Go West Girl and the graded stakes-placed Ketchikan, as well as the additional stakes-placed runners Manyatta, Miss Olivia Rae, and Whispering Hush. 

Villandry working at Keeneland
Photo by Terri Cage

Super Siblings: Successful Dan & Wise Dan

The same age as the Kentucky Derby (GI), the Clark Handicap (GI) has been contested over the same esteemed Louisville, Kentucky track since 1875, boasting a roll of victors that is speckled with the names of all-time greats, including Exterminator, Whirlaway, and Silver Charm. Named for the founder of the Louisville Jockey Club and the man who played a large role in the construction of Churchill Downs, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., the Clark Handicap is often viewed as the final significant race of the year for handicap horses.

In the 2010 edition of the Clark, a Thoroughbred named Successful Dan pulled on Julien Leparoux’s grip for much of the race, searching for a way to the lead. Down the historic Churchill Downs homestretch, the bay gelding veered outward, slamming into the multiple graded stakes-winning Redding Colliery and Rosie Napravnik, knocking the gray horse sideways. Galloping erratically down the stretch, Successful Dan battled with Giant Oak, making contact with him in their duel before crossing the wire ahead. However, as a result of his disruptive running, Successful Dan was disqualified to second.

A year later, Successful Dan’s half-brother, Wise Dan, would enter the same race off an impressive victory in the Fayette Stakes (GII) over Keeneland’s synthetic surface. The gelding had won the race in the same fashion as his half-brother, who had won the Fayette by three lengths a year earlier. Forwardly placed in the Clark, Wise Dan settled behind the stakes-winning Will’s Wildcat and the multiple graded stakes-winning Mission Impazible the first time past the Twin Spires. Wise Dan had the perfect trip over the main track prior to striking to the front around the far turn and edging clear in the final furlong, drawing away to a 3 ¾-length victory.

An injury kept Successful Dan away from the races the year Wise Dan won the Clark, but the bay gelding returned to post on opening day of Keeneland’s 2012 spring meet, loading into the gate for an allowance optional claiming over the all-weather track. Facing several graded stakes winners, Successful Dan battled for the lead in the one-turn race, galloping to a one-length victory.

Just over two weeks later, Wise Dan went to post over the same track, though the rewards for his race were more alluring. The chestnut gelding was making his first start since his Clark victory in the Ben Ali Stakes (GIII), in which he took the lead following the initial quarter of the nine-furlong race and never regressed as he easily coasted to a jaw-dropping 10 ½-length win in which he set a new track record of a breathtaking final time of 1:46.63. With his win, many began to declare him the early favorite for Horse of the Year. It was certainly one of the most impressive races that has been run in 2012.

Merely twelve days later, Successful Dan made his return to graded stakes company, going to post in the Alysheba Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks day. Settling near the rear of the eight-horse field, the son of Successful Appeal swept to the outside and down the homestretch, galloped his way to a one-length triumph. With his victory, Successful Dan defeated many of the top handicap horses in the nation, including Mucho Macho Man and Nate’s Mineshaft. Like his half-brother had done less than two weeks earlier, Successful Dan set a track record.

Both geldings are homebreds for Morton Fink, who has been a part of the Thoroughbred racing industry for over forty years. Fink also owns the dam of both talented horses, the eighteen-year-old mare Lisa Danielle. Also the dam of the stakes-winning Royal Dancer, Lisa Danielle is by Wolf Power, who was Horse of the Year in South Africa in 1984. Though the South African champion is a relatively low-key broodmare sire, the damsire of Lisa Danielle is the great Secretariat – one of the most tremendous sires of broodmares of all-time. He has produced the dams of many grade one winners and successful stallions, including A.P. Indy and Storm Cat. Lisa Danielle also hails from a lucrative French dam line that stems from female family five, a prolific female family that has yielded the dams of such great horses as Native Dancer and Seabiscuit.

Whereas Successful Dan is by Successful Appeal – a Man O’ War sire line stallion, Wise Dan is sired by Wiseman’s Ferry – a Northern Dancer sire line stud. However, both geldings form two crosses of Northern Dancer in just the first five generations of their bloodlines. Inbreeding to this champion has been present in the pedigrees of such horses as the champions and classic victors Big Brown, Rachel Alexandra, and Summer Bird.

Both Successful Dan and Wise Dan appear to be among the top of their class. It is a rare occurrence to see two siblings posting such remarkable victories within the same time frame and should certainly be appreciated. Though trainer Charles Lopresti plans to avoid running the brothers against each other, we could be in store for a sibling showdown in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Santa Anita in November. Regardless what happens, Fink and Lopresti are very fortunate to have a pair of such gifted brothers.


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