Hansen Gallops, Schools at Belmont Park

Hansen, 2011’s 2-Year-Old Champion Male, galloped 1 1/8 miles over Belmont Park’s training track and schooled at the gate this morning as his preparations continue for Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The light gray Tapit colt is the 6-5 favorite in a field of 13 for the 1 1/16-mile Gotham, the local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial on April 7.

Hansen, who suffered his first defeat when second to Algorithms in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park on January 29, arrived from Florida late Wednesday afternoon on the same flight as fellow Gotham starters Maan, Stealcase, Dan and Sheila, Finnegans Wake, and Suns Out Guns Out.

Maan, who broke his maiden at first asking in July at Churchill Downs, and returned seven months later to win an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park, jogged around the training track this morning, according to Tom Morley, assistant to trainer Eddie Kenneally.

“I haven’t seen him since this summer, and he’s definitely matured,” added Morley of the Malibu Moon colt. “He’s longer and he’s filled out.”

Morley said Maan will either jog or gallop tomorrow morning.