Hansen to bounce back in the Gotham Stakes at the Big A
The time is upon the 2-year-old champion male, Hansen, to show the horseracing world that he is one of the favourites for this year’s Triple Crown, especially after he got brutally shoved aside by another 3-year-old sensation, Algorithms, in the Grade 3
Holy Bull Stakes.
Algorithms handed Hansen the first defeat of his 4 race career, a career that was perfect before the Holy Bull Stakes, but things might get better for the 3-year-old son of Tapit, as he takes on a large but rather unaccomplished field of 13 in the Grade
3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct racecourse on 3 March, 2012.
It is a perfect opportunity for Hansen to set his Holy Bull Stakes woes aside and rebound after his five length defeat in a race where he set the pace, but was an easy target for the first place finish.
There is an equal opportunity for an unheralded sophomore to make a name for himself with the Graded 1 Kentucky Derby just around the corner, and cause a massive stir into the Triple Crown mix by upsetting the Mike Maker trained, Hansen.
There will be 3-year-olds who will be looking to stack up some graded stakes earnings to be eligible for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, and though on the surface the race looks a little mild, but in situations like these where there’s everything to run for,
the untested field might just spur up an unpleasant surprise for the favourites going into the race.
However, Hansen will experience a change in track, as he goes to New York from South Florida for the Gotham Stakes, with the leading jockey of the course, Ramon Dominguez, on his back.
He drew post number 12, which might create a few problems for his front-running style, but the pace setter seems covered since there isn’t much pace in the race.
Hansen stayed at Gulfstream Park after his defeat in the Holy Bull Stakes, and turned in his latest work there when he covered five furlongs in 1 minute 4/5 seconds.
The Kentucky bred will be sent as the 6 to 5 morning line favourite with the high weight of 123 pounds.
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