Set Piece Goes for Unusual Wise Dan Repeat

Only one horse has won the Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) multiple times and that’s the name of the race, this horse ran off with a one-mile handicap in 2011 and 2013 when it was called the Firecracker. In this year’s July 1 renewal, at 1 1/16 miles, millionaire Set Piece could become a repeat winner of Wise Dan, having won it the last time it was contested in 2021.

Wise Dan 2022 has been canceled due to poor pitch conditions at Churchill Downs; this has been moved Ellis . Park when the balance of the Churchill Downs meeting was moved as a safety precaution.

Coach Brad Cox won three of the last four runs of the race, with You misunderstood (2018) and this factor (2020) before Set Piece.

A 7-year-old Juddmonte boy raised by Dan cypress , Set Piece has been around for two years since his Wise Dan win, testing top middle distance runners both coast and in Canada. While level 1 glory has proved elusive, 12 wins, including four graded bets and $1,0686,683 in earnings from 27 starts, while almost always finishing far away. , has made him the most popular in the barn. This year’s Set Piece came in third after the 1st class winner Annapolis in the $300,000 Opening Verse at Churchill Downs, despite traffic problems, subsequently won the June 3 (G3T) Arlington Share.

“He’s one of my favorite horses that I’ve ridden,” says regular rider Florent Geroux. “He doesn’t have the early pace so it’s always difficult on the bigger pitches because you can’t go super wide to turn your head home but if you’re too far inside you’re in trouble.”

Geroux will hope for an honest pace. smoke led the Arlington Stock around the time before being grabbed by Set Piece. a 6 year old child get storm gelding, Get Smokin has a knack for taking the lead without going too fast too soon. Intern Mark Casse was a 3 and 4 graded bet winner for Tom Bush, who also trained his males.

Arlington’s third-place finisher, Harlan real estate , also returns to Wise Dan. 5 years old Kantharos gelding jumped from the start and remained third as the longest 27-1 shot across the board. Former Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher assistant Whit Beckman looks for his first classified equity win with Harlan Estate.

Kenny McPeek will saddle camp of hope (summer front ), a race before he started two horses in Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) featured. McPeek gave Camp Hope a try at the 2020 Breeders’ Cup for minors (G1) with just a first win and continues to show faith in the 5-year-old’s abilities. Last time, Camp Hope won a benefit option claimant with a purse of nearly $150,000, of which he was the sole runner with an asking price of $175,000.

The rest of the school of 10 horses includes Tut .’s Revenge One Canterbury Park last year’s bet winner; Play pass action $400,000 Gun Runner Stakes winner at Kentucky Downs last year but lack of interest in the three starts this season; Kittansetreceive a rich pension the option to claim victory at Churchill; cowboy justice third start-up in the US; Sew , the multi-stakes winner is listed at one mile on the pitch; And Hozier who made more than half a million dollars from the land before moving to turf last summer.