Wise Dan Wins Shadwell Turf Mile; Photos & Video

Wise Dan Wins Shadwell Turf Mile; Photos & Video (Keeneland Press Release): Morton Fink’s reigning two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan overcame a bad start, weaved his way through traffic and rolled past the leaders in deep stretch to win the 29th running of the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) – the first seven-figure race in track history – by a length before a crowd of 25,070 on a crisp Saturday afternoon. (Shadwell Turf Mile Photos & Replay Below)

In winning his 14th consecutive race on grass and his record seventh stakes win at Keeneland, Wise Dan covered the mile on a turf course listed as good in 1:35.62 and earned a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) to be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Santa Anita.

Charlie LoPresti trains Wise Dan, who was ridden by John Velazquez. Velazquez swept all three Grade 1 races on Saturday’s program: the First Lady on Dayatthespa, the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity on Carpe Diem and the Shadwell Turf Mile.

Velazquez won another two races on the card to record the first five-win day since Joel Rosario on April 25, 2013.

Wise Dan had his head turned at the start and spotted the field of eight a couple of lengths in the opening yards as Silver Max shot to the lead.

By the time the field advanced into the first turn, Wise Dan had moved to sixth but was stuck behind horses and flanked by Optimizer and Two Notch Road. Wise Dan remained in sixth as Silver Max ran unopposed on the lead through fractions of :24.58 and :48.27.

On the far turn, Velazquez began to angle Wise Dan to the outside and turning for home had him six wide and in the clear. Wise Dan surged to the front inside the sixteenth pole and drew away to win the Shadwell Turf Mile for the second time.

With the $600,000 paycheck, Wise Dan’s earnings increased to $7,552,920 with a record of 31-23-2-0. In his streak of grass wins, 10 have come in Grade 1s.

Bred by Fink in Kentucky, Wise Dan is a 7-year-old son of Wiseman’s Ferry out of the Wolf Power (SAF) mare Lisa Danielle.

Wise Dan returned $3.80, $2.80 and $2.10. Grand Arch, ridden by David Moran, paid $10.20 and $6 in finishing a neck in front of Sayaad, who paid $4.60 to show under Julien Leparoux.

It was 1½ lengths back to Kaigun, who was followed in order by Silver Max, Seek Again, Optimizer and Two Notch Road.

Racing continues Sunday with a 10-race program that begins at 1:05 p.m. ET. Highlighting the card is the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares featuring the nation’s leading older filly in Close Hatches. Listed as the day’s ninth race, the Juddmonte Spinster has a post time of 5:45 p.m.

Wise Dan Shadwell Turf Mile 2014 Photos courtesy of Keeneland: