Wise Dan makes amends for Fink, Lopresti in Clark

Twelve months ago, Successful Dan was arguably much the best in the Grade 1

Clark Handicap but wound up being disqualified from first to third after a

bumping incident in the stretch. His connections, owner/breeder Morton Fink and

trainer Charles Lopresti, returned to the scene on Friday with half-brother Wise

Dan and the four-year-old gelding helped make up for last year's disappointment,

recording a convincing 3 3/4-length victory.

John Velazquez picked up the mount for the $572,500 Clark, replacing an

out-of-town Julien Leparoux, and Wise Dan completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 4/5 over

the fast track.

Wise Dan has now won four of his last five starts, the lone setback being a

fourth-place effort against a top-class field in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile

two starts previously. He reeled off wins in the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on

turf and Presque Isle Mile Stakes on Tapeta prior to the Shadwell, and entered

the Clark off a dominant four-length tally in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes on

Keeneland's Polytrack. Despite the recent hot streak, Wise Dan's ability to

negotiate 1 1/8 miles on dirt at the Grade 1 level remained an unknown and the

betting public sent him off as the 9-2 co-second choice among 13 rivals.

The son of Wiseman's Ferry broke from post 11 and Velazquez appeared to have

a ton of horse beneath him the entire race.

Will's Wildcat broke running from his outside post and sprinted to a short

lead during the opening stages, establishing fractions in :23 4/5, :48 1/5 and

1:12 4/5 with Mission Impazible tracking in second and Wise Dan close up on the

outside in third under a snug hold. The pacesetter began to weaken turning for

home and Mission Impazible surged to the front at the top of the stretch, but

Wise Dan was clearly going best on the far outside waiting to hit his best

stride.

Velazquez finally gave Wise Dan his cue approaching midstretch and the

chestnut quickly hit the front, passing the mile mark in 1:36 3/5 with a

one-length advantage. He continued to edge clear in the final furlong.

The winner paid $11, $6 and $4.20 to his supporters.

Mission Impazible, a neck runner-up in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at

Churchill Downs this summer, turned in another admirable performance under the

Twin Spires, finishing 2 3/4 lengths clear in second as the 7-1 fourth choice.

Flat Out, the near 5-2 favorite, advanced into a threatening position midway on

the far turn but lacked the needed rally in the stretch and wound up third. He

was 1 1/4 lengths better than fourth-placer Mister Mardi Gras, who was followed

by Ruler on Ice, Headache, Alma d'Oro, Will's Wildcat, Prayer for Relief,

Stately Victor, Demarcation, Pleasant Prince and General Quarters under the

wire.

The Kentucky-bred Wise Dan, who captured the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes in his

stakes debut as a three-year-old, improved his career record to 14-8-0-0,

$919,601. He is the third stakes winner produced by the Wolf Power mare Lisa

Danielle, the others being Successful Dan and stakes vixen Our Royal Dancer.

This female family is also responsible for German Group 1 hero Scalo and

Grade 2 winner Siphon City. Wise Dan's fourth dam was Kalila, a half-sister to

French champion and classic winner Val de Loir and Irish champion and dual

classic winner Valoris II.