The Great Wise Dan Returns a Maker’s 46 Mile Winner

The Great Wise Dan Returns a Maker’s 46 Mile Winner: Wise Dan won his 20th race today in the $300,000 G1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland on Friday, April 11, 2014. The seven-year-old gelding beat out long shot Kaigun by ¾ of a length on the turf distanced at one-mile. The champion horse has crossed the finish line first twenty times out of 28 races.

The connections of Wise Dan including owner Morton Fink and trainer Charles LoPresti seemed a tad nervous about race day because the Maker’s 46 Mile was considered the two-time Horse of The Year’s return to racing. Last out, Wise Dan won the Breeders’ Cup Mile nearly five months ago on November 2, 2014.

Trainer Charles LoPresti said, “I was worried about it (because the race marked Wise Dan’s 2014 debut) just because of the winter and how much (training) time we lost. I told (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) going into the race that ‘I just don’t have him as tight as I need to but just give him an easy race and if he’s good enough to win just do the best you can to save him for the next one.’ This one is going to put us where we need to be.”

Fans can’t get enough of Wise Dan and can expect to see him again on the first Saturday in May. Charles LoPresti explained, “I’ll talk to the boss man right here (breeder and owner Mort Fink). He’ll tell me what to do. We’re looking at the Woodford (Reserve Turf Classic-G1) Derby Day – what we did last year. We’ll just see. If he comes back good (from the Maker’s 46 Mile), if he’s not too tired, that’s where we’ll go. Maybe we’ll do something else. Just see how he comes back.”

Jockey John Velazquez looked great in his yellow silks and stated after the win, “Before the race, Charlie said, ‘I don’t know if I have him tight enough so you better save some horse.’ So I was a little concerned about that and wanted to make sure that I got him back a little bit in the first part to where he could relax a little bit and not use too much energy in the first part, and he did that. He got a little strong on the backstretch, so I let him get his position to where he was comfortable. From then on, he did it very well.”

John Velazquez added, “This horse is incredible. They don’t come around that often. He’s definitely a special horse, and he’s proven it the last two-three years.”

Owner and breeder Morton Fink is no stranger to the Winner’s Circle but was still impressed with Wise Dan’s performance. Morton Fink siad, “You think I could really come up with the words to describe that? It’s like a dream: the whole thing. He does everything right. You just interviewed the guy (LoPresti) who’s the reason he’s the way he is.”

Wise Dan and jockey John Velazquez finished the mile on a firm turf course in 1:34.91. Wise Dan and jockey Lezcano won the 2013 edition of the Maker’s 46 Mile in 1:36.37.

Lady and The Track would like to congratulate Morton Fink, Charles LoPresti, John Velazquez, and the amazing Wise Dan on their Maker’s 46 Mile Win!

Marker’s 46 Mile Results & Payouts:
3 Wise Dan and John R. Velazquez $2.80 to Win/$2.40 to Place/$2.10 to Show
7 Kaigun and Alan Garcia $12.40 to Place/$5.40 to Show
6 Lochte and Orlando Bocachica $2.80 to Show
Also ran: 1 – Za Approval , 4 – Gentleman’s Kitten , 2 – Alakazan Alakazan
Scratched horses: Reload (Trainer)

2014 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland Replay: