Wiseman's Ferry, Sire of Wise Dan, Dies

By Ron Mitchell

Wiseman’s Ferry, the sire of two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, died March 17 at Dana Point Farm near Lenhartsville, Pa.

Dana Point Farm manager Maria Vorhauer said a necropsy is being performed to determine the cause of death of the 16-year-old son of Hennessy.

At the time of his death, Wiseman’s Ferry, who was standing at Dana Point for a $5,000 fee, had serviced five of 38 mares booked to him for the 2015 breeding season.

“It is very emotional,” Vorhauer said. “He really was my best friend.”

Wise Dan, voted Horse of the Year, champion older male, and champion turf male in 2012 and ’13, has won 23 of 31 starts with earnings of $7,552,920. He is a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) and has won 11 grade I races.

Bred in Kentucky by Nursery Place and Robert T. Manfuso out of the Silver Deputy mare Emmaus, Wiseman’s Ferry was initially campaigned in Europe by Mrs. John Magnier and Aidan O’Brien. He was trained through his U.S. campaign by Niall M. O’Callaghan after he was purchased by Swifty Farm, Morton Fink, and Lee Sacks, for whom he won the West Virginia Derby and Lone Star Derby, both grade III.

As of March 17, Wiseman’s Ferry had sired 183 winners, including six stakes winners, from 231 starters, with progeny earnings of $20,363,239. In addition to Wise Dan, Wiseman’s Ferry’s top progeny include Riding the River, a multiple grade II winner in Canada, as well as stakes winners Fort Drum, Kick On, Listen In, and Panamanian group II winner Wisemans Cure.