Hansen officially retired

Hansen was let go at 7-1 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs,

partly owing to the towering presence of the even-money Union Rags, and partly

because he was switching from Polytrack to dirt for the first time. But the

speed merchant showed that he had plenty of grit and class too, as he battled to

a head decision over the previously-unbeaten Union Rags.

By defeating the pro tem divisional leader, and extending his own mark to a

perfect three-for-three, Hansen clinched an Eclipse Award as champion

two-year-old colt. Yet his pedigree and running style left doubt about his

chances as a Kentucky Derby contender.

Hansen's road to the Derby got off to a rocky start in the Grade 3 Holy Bull

on January 29 at Gulfstream Park, where he stumbled at the break, rushed up to

lead, and was no match for Algorithms. Following that five-length loss in the

slop, Maker decided to remove the blinkers that the colt had worn in his first

four outings.

Hansen shipped north to Aqueduct for the Grade 3 Gotham on March 3. He showed

a touch more tractability, but still prompted the pace before drawing off by a

convincing three lengths.

Reverting to his free-wheeling ways next time out in the Grade 1 Blue Grass

over Keeneland's Polytrack April 14, he nearly pulled it off, only to be run

down late by Dullahan. That result looks even better now, since Dullahan just

did the same to older star Game on Dude in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del

Mar. Returning to Churchill for the Kentucky Derby, Hansen tracked the hot pace

in third before tiring to ninth.

Hansen shortened up to 1 1/16 miles for the Grade 3 Iowa Derby at Prairie

Meadows June 30 and flaunted his ability against overmatched rivals, running

away by 10 lengths. Another big effort was expected in the Grade 2 West Virginia

Derby at Mountaineer on August 4, but he succumbed to early pace pressure and

wound up fourth. In hindsight, connections believe that the tendon was already

starting to compromise him.

The Kentucky-bred Hansen bankrolled $1,810,805 from his 9-5-2-0 line.

Hansen was produced by the winning Sir Cat mare Stormy

Sunday. His female line has been lackluster for several generations, but he does

trace to the influential matron Black Ray, ancestress of *Khaled, Blushing Groom

and Mill Reef.

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