Hansen to run in the Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard
The 2011 juvenile champ, Hansen, will be bypassing the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, like he bypassed the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on 19 May, after disappointing half the nation with his dismal 9th
place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on 5 May, 2012.
Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing’s Hansen might not run in the Belmont Stakes, but he will be running in a race on the Belmont Stakes undercard at Belmont Park on 9 June, 2012.
The gray colt will run in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes, where he will be massively cut back in distance to seven furlongs, after running in the 1 ¼ mile Kentucky Derby.
Strictly exclusive for 3-year-old colts, Woody Stephens has also reeled in the front running, Trinniberg, who pumped Bodemeister to carve one of the fastest fractions ever recorded in the Kentucky Derby.
On 26 May, 2012, Michael J. Maker trained, Hansen turned in five furlongs in 1 minute and 2 3/5 seconds at the Churchill Downs’ Trackside Training Center.
The son of Tapit turned in his second work, since finishing 9th in the Kentucky Derby at trainer Michael Maker’s base, where the colt will work again on 2 June, 2012, according to his trainer.
Hansen was ridden by regular exercise rider, Joel Barrientos, and Michael was pleased with the effort his colt turned in. “It went well. We weren’t looking to do too much.”
“We’re going to keep him here (rather than ship to Belmont early),” Maker said. “He’ll work again next , and hopefully it will be a little cooler then.”
Out of Sir Cat mare Stormy Sunday, Hansen started his 2012 season with a second place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, where he was reeled in by Algorithms in the stretch.
Hansen tried to be a closer in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, and he was successful in it, but closing down My Adonis in the stretch to win the Stakes race just before the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, where he went back to his front running style and lost.
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