The Woodbine Mile is firming the comeback race for Wise Dan after trainer Charlie LoPresti gave the two-time Horse of the his third dirt work at Saratoga on August 16.

Following the work - Wise Dan's sixth since returning to training from colic surgery in May - LoPresti said the Woodbine Mile on September 14 is emerging as the most likely comeback race for the six-time Eclipse Award winner.

Wise Dan won the 2012 and 2013 Woodbine Mile, both races propelling him toward his Breeders' Cup Mile victories at the end of the year.

"He did really good. We were really pleased and I think everybody was happy with what they saw," LoPresti said.

"I think he's turned the corner in the last three weeks, he just needed a little bit of time."

“Ten weeks ago the horse had his belly open on the operating table.

"It's just a slow, fragile process getting him to where I want him to be."

"Last week was when I really pushed him. I really tightened the screws down and today I expected him to work like his old self."

In his only two starts this year, Wise Dan aced repeat victories in the g1 Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland and the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Lo Presti said there are plenty of reasons to target the Woodbine Mile.

"It's not about the money, it's about the Grade I status and the kind of horse we still think he is," LoPresti said.

“It's a turf course that he really loves, he doesn't have to carry additional weight, it's a Grade I Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In.'

"We could run him at Woodbine, run in the Shadwell Turf Mile, run in the Breeders' Cup Mile, and and if all went right run in the Clark and put him away at the end of the year."

Wise Dan has a record of 21 wins—10 of them in G1 events—and two seconds from 29 starts and earnings of $6,802,920.