Wise Dan continues to lead NTRA poll

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Wise Dan leads the way for a third straight week atop the NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll. The first 10 spots in the voting are unchanged from a week ago.

Wise Dan, trained by Charles Lopresti, received 20 first-place votes and 438 points in week 34 of the poll. The 5-year-old gelding will make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 3. Lopresti will send his turf runner from Kentucky to California on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

"I'm just going to piddle with him next week and keep him happy," Lopresti said Saturday at Keeneland. "He spends a lot of time down on the little (training) track and we mix it up. He will train here the Tuesday morning before he ships that day. He'll have a walk day Wednesday to get over the ship and then train Thursday and school in the paddock.

"I think I've got him figured out and less is more with him. I think he has gotten a lot more confident as he has gotten older and he likes the turf."

Game On Dude, set for the Breeders' Cup Classic, picked up three top votes from last week's 12, but fell further behind Wise Dan with 404 points.

Defending Ladies' Classic winner Royal Delta holds on to third with two top votes and 305 points. The 4-year-old filly is followed by Point of Entry (2, 289), I'll Have Another (8, 245), Mucho Macho Man (169), My Miss Aurelia (1, 130), Flat Out (106), Fort Larned (106) and Groupie Doll (96).