Wise Dan's connections target Saratoga for racing retrun

Two-time reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan jogged twice around the Keeneland training track on Tuesday morning as his connections eye an August return to racing.

Bloodhorse.com reported that Wise Dan, who had emergency colic surgery May 16, has recovered well and returned to the track in June.

"We're trying to go as easy as we can, but it's not going to be too much longer before he's going to have a little breeze," LoPresti told Bloodhorse.com. "Man, he's strong. Every day, we're just picking it up a little more. I'm trying to get him as fit as I can without really pressing on him too much."

The Grade II Fourstardave Handicap, held Aug. 9 at Saratoga, remains the target for Wise Dan's return to racing. LoPresti told Bloodhorse.com the Aug. 30 Bernard Baruch Handicap, also at Saratoga, would work if his 7-year-old champion isn't ready earlier that month.

The last time out, Wise Dan won Churchill Downs' Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day. Dating back to 2012, he's won 12 of 13 starts, including two Breeders' Cup Mile races. His lone defeat came to last weekend's Firecracker Handicap winner Silver Max in 2013 when Keeneland's Shadwell Turf Mile was moved from turf to polytrack.

"I'm just going to try to get as much easy galloping into him as I can, then I'll probably go an easy half-mile down here, and then away he goes" to Saratoga, LoPresti told Bloodhorse.com.

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.