American champion Wise Dan has made a triumphant return from illness to win a Grade Two race at Saratoga.
The dual United States Horse of the Year underwent colic surgery in May but showed his fighting qualities to win the Bernard Baruch Hcp (1700m) by a nose from Optimizer.
“We wanted a good race for him to get started with. He’s been through a lot,” trainer Charlie LoPresti told the New York Racing Association.
“I knew he was training good and I knew he was going to run good. I wouldn’t have been disappointed if he was beat today; it would have been something to build on.
“He showed today why he is the two-time Horse of the Year. He’ll be way tougher next time.”
The victory wasn’t without a few anxious moments for Wise Dan, who was unsettled in the starting gate, unseating jockey John Velazquez and having to be backed out and reloaded.
“He was really tough,” Velazquez said.
“He showed he has the heart of a champion.
“When I got to the eighth pole (200m), I didn’t think I got it. When I got past the sixteenth pole (100m) he was giving me everything he had and the other horse was coming from the outside.
“There was a little bit of doubt. He was getting tired.
“I’m incredibly proud. It’s incredible to have this horse coming back.”
Wise Dan’s 22 wins from 30 starts include 10 at the highest level.
The Grade One Woodbine Mile at Toronto on September 14, which Wise Dan has won for the past two seasons, is likely to be his next start before his bid to join Goldikova as a three-time Breeders’ Cup Mile winner.
Wise Dan has shown his versatility by winning on turf, dirt and synthetic tracks.
