Hansen tries Keeneland's Polytrack for the first time

Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing's Hansen, the 6-5 morning line favorite

for Saturday's 88th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, made his

first appearance at Keeneland on Friday morning with a jog to the starting gate

for a schooling session and then galloping 1 1/2 miles.

Please click

here for video of Hansen on the track.

Exercise rider Joe Sharp was aboard the 2011 juvenile champion as Hansen went

through his paces. Trainer Mike Maker said Hansen would be on the track at 6

a.m. (EST) Saturday morning for light training.

Maker brought Hansen to Keeneland a day early in order to get the session at

the gate.

"He stumbled in the (Grade 3) Holy Bull and in the (Grade 3) Gotham he did

not get away very well but he behaved himself," Maker said, noting that Hansen

had no problem last fall in his biggest victory, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at

Churchill Downs.

Hansen has won four of five starts for earnings of $1,473,305. The near white

son of Tapit will break from post position 4 in the Blue Grass and be ridden by

Ramon Dominguez.

A victory in the Blue Grass would be worth $450,000 and make Hansen the top

money earner to enter the Kentucky Derby in the race's 138-year history. Hansen

would have $1,923,305 to surpass Snow Chief's mark of $1,719,040 entering the

1986 Run for the Roses.

Hansen's home base is the Trackside Training Center, about four miles from

Churchill Downs, and a victory Saturday would make that spot a must stop in the

buildup to the Kentucky Derby.