Wise Dan headlines Shadwell Turf Mile; Say makes U.S. bow in First Lady

Wise Dan headlines Shadwell Turf Mile; Say makes U.S. bow

in First Lady

Keeneland will continue its opening Fall Stars Weekend spectacular with five

graded events carded on Saturday, three of which are scheduled for the turf. The

highlight of the day will be the Grade 1, $750,000

Shadwell Turf Mile featuring Horse of the Year Wise Dan going for his 10th

straight victory.

The venerable six-year-old has gone five-for-five this year, racking up

repeat wins in the Woodbine Mile, Fourstardave Handicap and Firecracker Handicap

while adding the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and Maker's 46 Mile to his

impressive resume. Wise Dan has set records for the past two years on both turf

and synthetic, including a new Polytrack record at Keeneland when taking the

2012 Ben Ali in a final time of 1:46.63 for nine furlongs.

The chestnut gelding is also 3-2-0-0 over Keeneland's turf, including the

aforementioned Maker's 46 Mile and the 2011 Fayette. His only loss over the

Lexington, Kentucky, sod came in the 2011 edition of the Shadwell Turf Mile,

when he finished a close fourth behind three-time champion Gio Ponti.

Wise Dan, who is trained by Charles LoPresti for owner/breeder Morton Fink,

will attempt to cross out that loss when he breaks from the far outside 10 post

under John Velazquez.

The veteran runner's main competition looks to come from his immediate

inside, the post Silver Max drew beneath Robby Albarado. That Badge of Silver

four-year-old brings a pair of graded wins into the Shadwell Turf Mile, taking

the Oceanport by 5 3/4 lengths at Monmouth Park prior to a last-out two-length

score in the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.

The bay colt was no match for Wise Dan in this race last year, finishing

ninth, but has come on of late and could continue to improve for trainer Dale

Romans.

Also lining up on Saturday is Summer Front, winner of a pair of Grade 3s in

his past two, and Grade 2 victor Willcox Inn, who captured the Washington Park

Handicap last out over Arlington's Polytrack. The latter runner will be trying

to improve on his runner-up effort behind Wise Dan in the the 2012 Shadwell Turf

Mile on Saturday.

Two races before the Shadwell Turf Mile, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Say will

make her stateside debut in the Grade 1, $400,000

First

Lady. The Galileo sophomore is part of an eight-distaffer field entered in

the one-mile turf contest.

Say captured a Group 3 event at the Curragh two back and is exiting a close

third in a Group 1 at Leopardstown on September 7. The bay miss will be getting

Lasix for the first time in her U.S. bow, and will have Joe Bravo aboard.

Say faces a contentious group of fillies and mares in the First Lady,

including the second- and third-place finishers from last year's running. Daisy

Devine led the way early on in the race before just being caught by a

half-length on the wire. Since then, the Andrew McKeever-trained daughter of

Kafwain has gone 3-3-1 from seven starts, but was last seen finishing second in

the Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs in early June. James Graham has the

call.

Hungry Island was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third in the 2012 First Lady

while closing out her four-year-old campaign. Thus far this season, the More

Than Ready mare has placed in the Just a Game, Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and

Noble Damsel. She'll get Garrett Gomez, aboard for the Just a Game, returning to

the saddle for Saturday's race.

Another contender in the First Lady is Better Lucky, who has competed

exclusively in New York except for two races at Keeneland with a flight to

Hollywood Park sandwiched between. In her first foray in Kentucky, the

Ghostzapper miss finished a nice third in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup

12 months ago. Trainer Tom Albertrani then shipped her to Hollywood Park for a

one-length victory in the Matriarch. She returned to Keeneland for her

four-year-old bow on April 13, finishing fourth in the Jenny Wiley before being

elevated to third via disqualification.

Better Lucky has run just twice since the spring, missing by only a

half-length in the Just a Game and filling the third spot in the Noble Damsel

three weeks ago. Julien Leparoux will be holding the reins in the First Lady.

Also in with a chance is Dayatthespa, who is two-for-two at Keeneland

following wins in last year's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and Appalachian.

The four-year-old daughter of City Zip is coming off a state-bred stakes win at

Saratoga in mid-August.

Wrapping up the turf stakes action at Keeneland on Saturday is the Grade 3,

$150,000

Woodford at 5 1/2 furlongs on the green. Stormofthecentury will try to

duplicate the effort that saw him score his stakes debut in the Turf Monster

Handicap at Parx Racing on September 2 when lining up against nine other

hopefuls in the Woodford.

Great Mills, runner-up in the 2012 Woodford, will be making just his third

start of the year in this spot. The War Front five-year-old followed his

Woodford second with a nice fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, and has won

against optional claiming rivals while finishing second in the Troy thus far

this season.

Havelock was the 2011 Woodford winner but bypassed last year's running. The

six-year-old gelding loves Keeneland's green, taking three of his four starts

over the Lexington turf including the Shakertown in the spring. He'll be making

his first start Saturday since a pair of unplaced runs against Group 1 rivals in

England.

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