Wise Dan Wins his Eighth in a Row

Horse of the Year Wise Dan won the Fourstardave Handicap (G2) for the second year in a row and I think the “Sultan of Saratoga” would approve. Fourstardave earned that nickname for having won at least one race at the Spa every year for eight years from 1987 to 1994. Fourstardave had been the only horse to win this race in consecutive years, which was then known as the Daryl’s Joy in 1990 and 1991.

 

Wise Dan used his long and relentless stride to pass King Kreesa for his eighth consecutive victory. That win streak began last year in this same race when Wise Dan carried only 119 pounds against six challengers.  This year Wise Dan was saddled with 129 pounds as six new horses went into the gate to try and beat the defending champ.

 

King Kreesa was on the lead as expected and he got to set soft early fractions of :24.24 and :47.48. Wise Dan saved ground on the rail in third position behind King Kreesa and Skyring. Rounding the final turn John Velazquez moved Wise Dan off the rail into the two path and just wore King Kreesa down. Velazquez easily passed the leader and looked over both shoulders to see if there was any other competition. The final time for Wise Dan’s win in the Fourstardave was 1:34.

 

In today’s handicap races, horses are rarely asked to carry 129 pounds and after the race Velazquez said of Wise Dan, “He’s amazing. With all the weight they put on him, he still ran the way he has always done it. To show up and do it the way that he did it today was incredible.”

 

Most likely that is last time that weight will be an issue for Wise Dan in 2013. If he competes in the same races as last year, Dan will face weight for age conditions.

 

A much more relaxed trainer Charlie LoPresti said of his champion, “I think he showed everyone what kind of horse he is, with the weight on his back and the fractions up front.  They went slow the first quarter. King Kreesa ran a great race and he just gunned him down. He showed everyone that under adversity that he can still run the way we think he can.”