Horse of the Year: Wise Dan!

At the Eclipse Awards (think the Oscars of horse racing) last weekend, Wise Dan was once more crowned “King” of American racing when he became one of a very small number of horses to be named HOTY two years in a row.

Top: Used with permission from Breeders’ Cup Ltd.

A gritty chestnut gelding who doesn’t know the meaning of “give up,” he was sired by a stallion who stood for a mere $1,000 and out of a mare that wasn’t really worth too much more than that. His breeder and now racing owner, Morton Fink, didn’t pay any attention to the naysayers and his faith has been well rewarded.

Here are some of “Dan’s” best performances from 2013:

Finding an opening skimming the hedge to take the 2013 Firecracker Handicap

Romping home in the 2013 Woodbine Mile

Battling hard on a wet, soggy Churchill turf course in the 2013 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes

Lovely win on a sunny day at Saratoga in the Fourstardave Handicap

And of course, his win in the 2013 Breeder’s Cup Mile!

And if you were wondering how it all got started, here is a video of his very first win, way back in March of 2010.  Yep–a superstar from the first!

Go Wise Dan.

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