Stackin’ Cheddar: Looking Back on Start of Something Special for Wise Dan

Legends
Hall of Famer Wise Dan rallied to win his stakes debut in the Phoenix Stakes in October 2010 on the main track. He would go on to become one of the best turf milers in U.S. racing history. (Eclipse Sportswire)

This marks the latest edition of “Stackin’ Cheddar: Looking Back”, a new biweekly series on America’s Best Racing. Here, we’ll look back on an early race in the careers of some of the greatest horses of all time, including spots where they went off at a big price.

Oct. 8, 2010

Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes

Race 8, Keeneland

Wise Dan was one of the most accomplished and beloved horses of the 2010s. He won back-to-back Horse of the Year titles in 2012 and 2013, one of six horses to win the award in consecutive years since 1971. He excelled on all surfaces, winning graded stakes races on dirt, turf, and synthetic tracks. His 23 career wins included 19 graded stakes scores and victories in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2012 and 2013.

Few could have imagined such things for this Charles LoPresti-trained gelding when he made his graded stakes debut in the Phoenix Stakes on opening day of the 2010 Keeneland fall meet. He broke his maiden in style in March at Turfway Park, crushing the field by 15 ¼ lengths, and followed it up with an allowance win on the Kentucky Derby day undercard. This race marked his first start since then as well as a significant class test.

Wise Dan went off as the 6.60-1 fourth choice in the 12-horse field. He broke well from post-position three and was rated just off the early pace by Rafael Bejarano. At the three-sixteenths pole, Wise Dan found running room in the three path, and Bejarano began to ask him for run. Wise Dan wore down favored Hollywood Hit in the last few strides and prevailed by a half-length.

Wise Dan paid $15.20 to win. With the favorites second and third, the exacta and trifecta paid $72.20 and $233.40 respectively. After a few unplaced finishes in stakes company over the next few months, Wise Dan made his turf debut in the Firecracker Handicap in July 2011 at Churchill Downs. He won by 2 ¾ lengths … and the rest is history.

1. Wise Dan $15.20  $7.00 $4.00
2. Hollywood Hit $4.20 $3.00
3. Warrior’s Reward $2.80

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