Algorithms ended Hansen’s three-race-win streak with an easy victory in the Holy Bull Stakes
It was always going to be a test for other contestants of the Grade 3, $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes, that where they stand against the undefeated juvenile champion, Hansen, a test which was not going be easy considering the 2-year-old champion shows no mercy on the track.
Though a one turn mile, and a rainy Gulfstream Park with a wet, sealed track could have conspired against the chances of the newly turned 3-year-old Michael Maker trained colt, but this shouldn’t be even half of an excuse for the connections, and certainly shouldn’t take anything away from the Todd Pletcher trained Algorithms, who made it look easy on 29 January, 2012, handing the odds-on favourite his first defeat.
Todd Pletcher was all praises for Algorithms, but in between, he did lay out the facts that worked in his favour, which included drawing the far outside post that benefited the Beranrdini colt.
"This race was going to tell us where we were with him, running against the 2-year-old champion," the trainer, Todd Pletcher said.
Pletcher added:
"Now he’s done everything we’ve asked him to. It’s too early to say what we might do with him at this point. You can never have enough good 3-year-olds, but you hate to run them against each other. “
Ramon Dominguez rode the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Hansen, and it seemed to be a tough race for the champion, straight away when he stumbled coming out of the gate and settled in third position in the six-horse field.
He was quick to recover, and it was time to revert back to Plan A, which was to take the lead as soon as possible.
Hansen did exactly that, as Algorithms settled in second, and Silver Max loomed inside him.
Nearing the stretch, Hansen, held a considerable advantage of 4 ½ lengths, but showed little resistance in the stretch, while Algorithms quickly took command en route an easy five length win in the Holy Bull Stakes, under jockey Javier Castellano.
Hansen held off My Adonis for second by a length.
Stretching out, Hansen wasn’t a problem and his connections are ready to send him on a two turn journey against his rival, Unions Rags, in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Tags: