Predicting Hansen's Sire Potential
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
The three year old colt division was
dealt a blow with the sudden retirement of last year's Two Year Old
Champion Hansen. The gallant light gray colt suffered a tendon injury
in September and was subsequently retired.
Hansen received national attention when
he demolished a group of juvenile colts in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile
Stakes. Just two weeks earlier, the Michael
Maker trainee dispatched maidens in similar
fashion over the Turfway Park Polytrack, winning his racing debut by
12 ¼ lengths, getting 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.12.
The free-running Hansen was sent off
the third choice in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill
Downs. Racing over dirt for the first time in his career, the son of
Tapit carved out legitimate fractions on the front end. Meanwhile,
the race favorite Union Rags raced wide the whole way and came up a
short head behind Hansen.
This year, Hansen recorded a win in the
Gotham Stakes as the favorite and second place finishes in the Holy
Bull and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. In the Kentucky Derby, Hansen
pressed the pace from third place, then tired in the stretch to
finish ninth, in the first off of the board placing in his career.
Bypassing the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the plucky colt destroyed
four rivals in the Iowa Derby (G-3).
In what was supposed to be a prep race
for the Travers Stakes, Hansen took his customary spot leading the
field in the West Virginia Derby (G-2). He dueled the whole way with
Hero of Order. The two fought though quick early fractions and the
duel took it's toll in the stretch. Hanson tired to finish fourth,
only 2 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Undeterred, his owner Dr.
Kendall Hansen pointed Hansen to the Travers
Stakes.
Unfortunately, days before the
Mid-summer Derby, Hanson suffered a tear in his left front tendon.
News of his retirement came a month later.
Race Record: 9-5-2-0 ($1,810,805)
Career Highlights:
1st – Breeders' Cup
Juvenile (G-1)
1st – Gotham Stakes (G-3)
1st – Iowa Derby (G-3)
1st – Kentucky Club
Juvenile (listed)
2nd – Toyota Blue Grass
(G-1)
2nd – Holy Bull Stakes
(G-3)
Although negations with breeding farms
are ongoing, Dr. Hansen stated that he would like to see his stallion offered at a
competitive price popular with breeders. Dr. Hansen also commented that
he'll be active at the Keeneland mixed sales to find good matches to
support his horse at stud. Dr. Hansen remarked, "What's different in this situation from other owners is that when you name a horse (after yourself), you don't think about a situation like this. Obviously, I'd like to see the family name at the top of the Freshmen Sire Lists rather than at the bottom."
Sire:
Tapit is descended from a strong,
classy distaff line. His dam is a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner
Unbridled. Tapit's second, third and fourth dam's are blue hens.
Offspring in the line include the durable sire Relaunch, Grade 1
winning sire Rubiano, top California sire Golden Act, and multiple
Grade 1 heroine Life At Ten.
The gray stallion was off to a tremendous start at stud when he sired two champions right off the bat. Stardom Bound, a daughter from Tapit's first crop, earned Juvenile Filly Championship honors after reeling off five consecutive Grade 1 wins, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Tapit's son As De Trebol earned honors as Spain's Champion Juvenile in the same year. Tapit's babies hit the track running and are known for their precocity. He gets an above average 17% two year old winners.
Tapit is a young stallion with four sons standing at stud. His sons Concord Point ($7,500) and Trappe Shot ($10,000) stand in Kentucky. Two minor sons, Make Reservations and Tippty Tap stand for private fees in New York. None are represented by offspring on the track.
Damsire:
Hanson's distaff line is modest, filled
with claiming class runners. Hanson is the first blacktype winner in
his female family in five generations and there are only 9% stakes
winners in his first seven generations.
Breeding Recommendations:
Hanson carries the bloodlines of the
top three stallions in the US, Bold Ruler through A.P. Indy and
Secretariat (5S x 5D), Raise A Native (5S x 4D) through his sons Mr.
Prospector and Highland Park, and Northern Dancer (4S x 5S) through
his sons Nijinsky and Storm Cat. Hansen's linebreeding is four or
more generations back, so mating him to mares descended from the main
sire lines should prove successful.
Other sire lines that would work are
those of Roberto, Halo, Stop The Music, Tiznow Wild Again, Turn To
(Hail To Reason, Cyane, First Landing, Graustark) and Holy Bull.
Breeding back to notable blue hens is a
common breeding theory. Tapit's distaff line is that of Lowe's Family
3-o. The descendants of the blue hen Foggy Note (Tapit's fourth dam)
include Relaunch, Glitterman (by Dewan) and Chimes Band (by Dixieland
Band). Breeding mares by these stallions to Hansen could result in
Rasmussen Factor inbreeding (inbred to a superior mare within five
generations) to Foggy Note or her blue hen daughters Moon Glitter or
Bell O' Reason. This type of breeding to foggy note has resulted in
ten stakes winners, including the multiple Graded Stakes mare
Concorde Point (Tapit – Harve De Grace, by Capote).
Hansen has a proven likeness for
synthetic tracks. If he is bred to mares with proven family form over
synthetic surfaces, he could prove to be a valuable niche stallion.
Outlook:
Obviously, we won't know what class of
offspring Hanson will produce at this point. However, his progeny
should be precocious and best up to 1 1/6 miles. They should handle
all surfaces, but be especially adept over synthetic surfaces and
dirt. If his babies receive Hansen's temperament and determination
to win, they should be successful at all levels.
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