Wise Dan faces full field of rivals in Presque Isle Mile

WISE DAN (Wiseman's Ferry), a convincing winner of the July 4 Firecracker H.

(G2) on Churchill Downs' turf, will switch back to an all-weather track in

Friday's $250,000

Presque Isle

Mile S. Successful on Polytrack at Keeneland and Turfway Park, the

four-year-old gelding will make first attempt on Tapeta and tops an

overflow field of 14 at Presque Isle Downs.

Trained by Charles Lopresti, who saddled Successful Dan (Successful Appeal)

to a runner-up behind multiple Grade 2 hero Gayego (Gilded Time) in last year's

Presque Isle Mile, Wise Dan made his turf bow in the Firecracker. The

chestnut captured the Phoenix (G3) at Keeneland and was beaten only 2 1/2

lengths when sixth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last fall, but he opened

2011 with three consecutive unplaced efforts. The Firecracker signaled a

turnaround in form, with a career-best 106 BRIS Speed rating for the 2

3/4-length decision, and Wise Dan is the likely favorite from post 10 with a

returning Jon Court.

Stunning Stag reeled off three straight wins, including the Autumn S.

(Can-G2) and Vigil S. (G3), before a third in the Eclipse S. (Can-G3) and a head

second in the Seagram Cup (Can-G3) last out. The Sid Attard-trained gelding is a

late-running threat with regular rider Gerry Olguin. Tempted to Tapit was a well

regarded three-year-old last year for Steve Klesaris, recording a second in the

Risen Star (G2) and a third in the Sunland Derby (G3), but was sidelined for

nearly 14 months before returning with a convincing allowance victory at

Delaware Park. The gray gelding exits a close second to Wilburn (Bernardini) in

a Monmouth Park optional claimer and was flattered when that rival came back to

win Monday's Smarty Jones S. David Cohen rides.

GUYS REWARD (Grand Reward) finished a head third in the Louisville (G3) two

back and will look to rebound from a seventh in the Colonial Turf Cup. The Dale

Romans trainee is one-for-one on snthetic tracks. JIMMY SIMMS (Lost Soldier),

DAZZLED SAINT (Saint Afleet), CAPITOL APPEAL (Successful Appeal), ANAK NAKAL

(Victory Gallop) and FUTURE PROSPECT (Freud) are all exiting wins over

allowance/optional foes. AL MUHTSAIB (Distorted Humor) has won his last two

starts and will be making his first start for trainer Merrill Scherer after

being claimed for $50,000 from a four-length score at Saratoga.

EL GRAN SOL (Hook and Ladder) and WEAR THE CROWN (Roman Ruler) are both stuck

on the also-eligibles list.