NEWS
Tough Holy Bull Stakes field awaits Hansen
Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 7:10 PM
HANSEN
Bob Coglianese photo
by Frank Angst
Last year’s champion two-year-old male Hansen will not ease into his three-year-old season.
A small but talented field awaits undefeated 2011 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Hansen on Sunday when he makes his first start of the season in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
In his first start since holding off Union Rags in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile at Churchill Downs, Hansen will turn back to a one-turn mile. After breezing five furlongs in :59.81 on January 22 at Gulfstream Park, trainer Mike Maker said owner Kendall Hansen’s namesake gray or roan colt has prepared well for his 2012 debut.
“We’ve had no bumps in the road. Hopefully that trend continues” Maker said of Hansen, who prefers to race on the lead. “It’s no different than a closer. You’re dependent on the pace. You just hope no one makes him go quicker earlier than he has to.”
Sunday’s start will mark just the second career effort on dirt for Hansen, who posted easy wins at Turfway Park in the first two starts of his career, including a 13¼-length waltz in the Bluegrass Cat Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes.
Awaiting Hansen on Sunday will be Algorithms, who enters off a clear victory in a tough 6½-furlong allowance optional claiming race on December 16 at Gulfstream. Starlight Racing’s Algorithm has won both of his career starts for trainer Todd Pletcher after taking his maiden special weight debut by 5¼ lengths on June 3 at Belmont Park.
“He’s trained very well,” Pletcher said. “His first two races have been excellent. He’s bred to stretch out and we’re optimistic he’s a top-level colt.”
Algorithms, by Bernardini, will stretch out to a mile for the first time on Sunday where he will be joined by Godolphin Racing’s Consortium, who finished second in the December 16 allowance-optional claiming race.
Also entered in the Holy Bull is local favorite Fort Loudon, who swept last year’s three-race Florida Stallion series at nearby Calder Race Course and closed the year with a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The homebred Awesome of Course colt has earned $333,485 for Jacks or Better Farm.
Rounding out the field will be Mark Bacon’s Silver Max, who will start from the rail; and Lori and George Hall’s My Adonis.
Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: John, Somerset, KY on January 27, 2012 at 08:30 PM
I think Hansen's got a ton of heart and the speed to match!! But at some point early into the season, Mike Maker is simply going to have to teach this colt how to rate. Whether he's out on the lead, or sitting 1 or 2 deep off of the pace? If Hansen doesn't learn to rate on the lead or just off of the lead, I don't see him being competitive in the Triple Crown races in 2012. It's one thing to bolt from the gate and take the field gate to wire at a mile or even at 8-1/2f. But once you start trying to do that at 9f and beyond, you're just asking for disaster. And the majority of the major Kentucky Derby preps are at least 9f. Lord forbid if Hansen tries that bolt from the gate and leave the field style in the Kentucky Derby at 10f. If he does, he'll be cooked by the time he hits the top of that long, forever Churchill Downs stretch. Love the horse. I just think some new tactics are in order. Or at the very least, modifying the existing tactics. TJMO.
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Posted by: Philip, Oklahoma City, OK on January 26, 2012 at 09:50 PM
I'm also pulling for Hansen. I've been cheering on this gray colt ever since his victory in the Kentucky Gold Cup Juvenile.
I bet a big chunk of money on him in the BC Juvenile & he didn't disappoint. His ability to go 1-1/16 mi is not in dispute; I'm dying to see if he can go 1-1/8mi & farther!
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Posted by: cary, minard, FL on January 26, 2012 at 08:32 PM
Good luck to both Hansen and Mike Maker.
Look forward to seeinf the both of you in the DERBY!
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Posted by: Hansenlover!, Horseland, IL on January 26, 2012 at 08:06 PM
OMGS!!! What a beauty he his! Love that pic! He is an incredible colt!
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