Hansen goes for the West Virginia Derby to prove to be the best crop in training
The roan to almost white front runner, Hansen, has his gaze glued at the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby on Saturday, 4th August at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. He has drawn the ninth post over the 1 1/8 mile distance and will race under jockey, Mike Smith, as his regular rider, Ramon Dominguez, misses the race.
It is not that the absence of Tapit’s three-year-old colt went unnoticed in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes and the Haskell Invitational. The 2011 Champion two-year-old was missing from the action over the weekend. The reason for holding back the white beauty from Monmouth and Saratoga is being put upon the fear of the owner, Dr. Kendall Hansen, due to the hike in the competition. However, according to the trainer, the team has farfetched and flung plans for three-year-old which includes the talent packed Grade 1 Travers.
"I look forward to running against Bodemeister, Paynter, Dullahan, Alpha, Teeth of the Dog, Neck and Neck, etc., that is the most important 3 year old race left this year and my trainer says it may compromise our chances to run 2 tough races back to back. I also want my horse to remain sound, which seems to be a problem for many this year. Hansen beat the best of the best last year and we ran in the Blue Grass and Kentucky Derby, ...how is that ducking?"
The trainer has apologised for not letting Hansen become the part of the Haskell and has advised the fans to wait till he gets racing at Saratoga. He is for sure saving the best for the last!
Hansen’s most celebrated and exciting victory was in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby on 30th June, 2012 over 1 1/16 mile track running past the other four competing as if they were not even on the track. Winning by the margin of ten lengths by going wire-to-wire made him conclude the race in a minute and :42.01 seconds.
”Our goal is to re-establish Hansen as the top of his crop in training,” commented the trainer.
A glimpse of the trainer’s conviction will be reflected through the outcome of the West Virginia Derby.
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