Wise Dan scheduled to work Tuesday for Woodbine Mile

LoPresti's charge, perfect through four starts in 2013, is already well on

his way to defending his Horse of the Year title with wins in the Maker's 46

Mile at Keeneland; the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and Firecracker Handicap at

Churchill Downs and the Fourstardave at Saratoga, all on the grass.

While some observers are calling for Wise Dan to stray from his comfort zone

of the turf mile, LoPresti is keen to remind potential detractors of the

gelding's impressive resume.

"People forget this horse won a Grade 1 on the dirt (Clark Handicap); was

second beaten a head in a Grade 1 on the dirt (Stephen Foster Handicap); and he

broke a track record on synthetic (Ben Ali)," offered LoPresti. "They also

forget he won a Grade 3 sprinting on the synthetic (2010 edition of the Phoenix

at Keeneland).

"He's done all that before but they want him to do it again. At this point in

time, I don't feel like I have to prove anything to anybody. I want to do what's

right for my horse and what the owner (Morton Fink) wants to do. He pays the

bills and we'll do what's right for him and the horse."

So, Wise Dan will set out to impress once again this weekend as he looks for

his ninth consecutive graded score.

"It's not like he's a stallion and we're trying to prove anything as far as

breeding or standing him at stud," LoPresti explained. "We just want to put him

in places where we can keep him undefeated and we can enjoy him."

In other Woodbine Mile news:

Dimension, who was overlooked at 10-1 in the Play the King, gave Murphy his

first stakes win as a trainer since he arrived from his homeland last fall,

fresh on the heels of a monstrous winning wager of

£1 million which allowed him to form Riverside Bloodstock and set up shop

at the Skylight Training Center in Goshen, Kentucky, where he breaks and trains

horses for various clients.

Murphy only owns two horses, including Dimension, whom he purchased privately

last year after his windfall from the owner-breeder Cheveley Park Stud.

"It's unbelievable to have a horse like Dimension," Murphy continued. "He's a

thorough professional. You can do anything with him. I bought him to be a

miler. I'm not worried about the distance. He wasn't stopping in the Play the

King. The ground doesn't have to be firm, but he needs at least good ground.

"There's no doubt about it. Wise Dan is a great horse. You have to admire

him. But you can't be afraid of one horse. There's also the horse from Europe

(Trade Storm) and (locals) Excaper and Riding the River are very good. You could

make a case for any of them," Murphy added.

Devon White, three-time World Series champion, including two with the Toronto

Blue Jays, will draw post positions for the 17th Woodbine Mile at a noon (EDT)

press conference Thursday at Woodbine's east-end VIP tent.

White is best known for his excellent speed and outstanding defense which

resulted in seven Gold Gloves as the Blue Jays' centerfielder.

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