Pedigree Look: Wise Dan

 Name: Wise Dan

Year Born: 2007

Color: Chestnut

Sex: Gelding

Sire: Wiseman's Ferry

Dam: Lisa Danielle

Broodmare Sire: Wolf Power (SAF)

Profile: Turf horses aren't meant to win Horse of the Year in the US, Wise Dan changed that this past Saturday night. He became the first horse since 1993 to win HOY racing primarily on grass. Even bigger, he became the first horse since 1981 to win Older Male, Turf Male and HOY. He is also the first chestnut and male to win HOY since Curlin in 2008 (all three of the females where dark bay or bay).

Unraced at 2, it took two starts to break his maiden. He would win his first stakes, the 2010 Phoenix at Keeneland. After that he made the jump to the Breeders' Cup where he  finished to Big Drama in the Sprint.  He would then end the year with a win in an Allowance/Opt. Claimer at Churchill. 2011 didn't start well for him at all with three out of the money finishes. He would then win the Firecracker in July and the Presque Isle Mile before finishing 4th in the Shadwell Mile. He would end the year with wins in the Feyette and Clark Handicap. The latter a bit of a revenge for his brother Successful Dan who was dq'ed from his win in 2010.

2012 would be his coming out year. He broke a track record at Keeneland in the Ben Ali and finished a good second in the Stephen Foster. That would be his final loss of his season. When he returned in August it would be all wins including 3 G1 wins ending with a course record in the Breeders' Cup Mile over the previous year's Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. He was easily named Horse of the Year, the first turf horse since Kotashaan. He also won Turf Male and Older Male, the first to do so since John Henry and he is also the first gelding since John. Here is his Mile win: http://youtu.be/dy-PSInfWtw.

Sire

Wiseman's Ferry (Hennessy) started his career in Europe before moving to the States. When he got here, he would race in the 2002 Belmont as well as won the West Virginia Derby and Lone Star Derby. Other then WD, he is the sire of stakes placed Seasons Wise.

His sire Hennessy (Storm Cat) won the 1995 Hopeful and was second in the BC Juvenile that same year. He did not race past the age of 2. As a sire he has G1 winner Henny Hughes (who is the sire of 2yo champion Beholder), G1 winner Harmony Lodge, G1 winner Madcap Escapade, Queen's Plate winner Inglorious and G1 winner and 2yo Champion Male Johannesburg. His dam Island Kitty (Hawaii (SAF)) is G1 placed. She is also the dam to G1 placed Shy Tom (Blushing Groom (FR)).

His dam Emmaus (Silver Deputy) was unraced in her career. She is a 1/2 sister to Irish G3 winner Bernstein (Storm Cat), G1 winner Country Cat (Storm Cat), G3 winner Caress (Storm Cat) (dam to G1 winner Sky Mesa (Pulpit)) and G1 placed in Ireland Della Francesca (Danzig). This is the same female family as G1 winner and Champion 2yo filly Outstandingly (Exclusive Native). 

Dam

Lisa Danielle (Wolf Power (SAF)) only won once in her career. Other then Wise Dan, she is the dam to stakes winner Our Royal Dancer (Roy) and G1 placed Successful Dan (Successful Appeal).

Her sire, Wolf Power (SAF) (Flirting Around) is a G1 in his native South Africa. He was named Horse of the Year in 1985. Among his foals are G3 winner Monashee, G3 placed Ask Anita and stakes winner Delta Wolf. His dam Pandora (SAF) (Casabianca (GB)) is also the dam to South African Derby winner, Artistry (SAF) (Budapest (FR)). 

Her dam Askmysecretary (Secretariat) was unraced. She is the dam to G1 placed Carsona (Carson City), the dam to G2 winner Siphon City (Siphon (BRZ)) and G3 placed Bronx City Girl (Yankee Gentleman). This is the same female family as German G1 winner Scalo (GER) (Lando (GER)) and French G1 winner Roi Lear (FR) (Reform (GB)).