Wise Dan nominated to Woodford Reserve Turf Classic

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan has been nominated to defend his crown in this year's Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Morton Fink and trained by Charlie LoPresti, Wise Dan won the last two editions of the 1 1/8-mile Woodford and can become the first horse to win the grass event three times. Einstein won the race in 2008-09.

The $500,000 Turf Classic is on Kentucky Derby Day, May 2 and is scheduled to be televised as part of NBC's broadcast of the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby.

Wise Dan, Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013, missed the last few months of 2014 after developing a non-displaced fracture at the bottom of the cannon bone of the right front fetlock.

The gelding won the previous two Breeders' Cup Miles, both at Santa Anita, and was voted Horse of the Year both times along with Eclipse Awards as champion older male thoroughbred and male turf horse for 2012-13.

Wise Dan won the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last Oct. 4 with earlier victories last year in the Maker's 46 Mile and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.

The 8-year-old underwent emergency colic surgery last May 16 and returned to the races by winning the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

Wise Dan has career earnings of $7,552,920 with 23 wins in 31 starts.