Horse of the Year Wise Dan Retired

Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry–Lisa Danielle, by Wolf Power {Saf}), who thrilled racing fans with his grit and determination through two Horse of the Year campaigns, was officially retired from racing Monday. The 8-year-old gelding, sidelined since last fall with an ankle injury, had been expected to make his return to the races in the Sept. 13 GI Woodbine Mile, but a tendon injury forced owner Morton Fink and trainer Charlie LoPresti to retire the valiant chestnut.

“He'd been training lights out,” LoPresti said Monday. “But we noticed some filling in his tendon this morning when we were giving him a bath. The vet suggested we scan it and it turns out he has a tear on the outside edge of his tendon.”

Wise Dan was unbeaten in four starts last term, returning from emergency colic surgery in the spring for a dramatic victory in the 2014 GII Bernard Baruch H. He had been preparing for a defense of his GI Breeders' Cup Mile title when sidelined by an ankle injury last fall.

“Mr. Fink and I talked about it and we've all decided he should be retired at this age,” LoPresti continued. “There's no point trying to bring him back again. I expect he'll retire to our farm here in Kentucky. He'll be turned out with his brother Successful Dan.”

Wise Dan was named Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013 after capping both campaigns with wins in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He also claimed the Eclipse statue as champion grass horse and champion older horse in both seasons. The 8-year-old retires with 23 wins–11 at Grade I level–from 31 starts and earnings of $7,552,920. In addition to his Breeders' Cup double, the remarkable gelding also recorded back-to-back victories in the 2012 and 2013 Woodbine Mile, 2012 and 2014 GI Shadwell Turf Mile, 2013 and 2014 GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and 2013 and 2014 GI Maker's 46 Mile S. He was also a Grade I winner on dirt, having captured the 2011 GI Clark H., and a multiple graded stakes winner over the synthetics.

“We were trying to get to the Breeders' Cup and we thought Woodbine was the perfect place to get started,” LoPresti said. “We were so excited about coming up, but it wasn't meant to be.”