Wise Dan nosed out Optimizer to win the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga. Coglianese Photography
Two-time defending Horse of the Year Wise Dan strengthened his perch aboard the top of the NTRA’s weekly national poll after winning Saratoga’s Bernard Baruch in his first race since undergoing colic surgery in May.
Wise Dan had 28 first-place votes this week, up from 16 last week. Unbeaten Shared Belief, who last week beat older horses in the Pacific Classic, remained second with six first-place votes, followed by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome (four first-place votes) and Close Hatches (tw0). Palace Malice remained in fifth with three top votes, based on the point system used.
The horse moving up the most was Woodward winner Itsmyluckyday, who skyrocketed from 21st to sixth in the poll.
