Hansen Returns to Worktab
Christmas Eve morning Saturday was very busy for horsemen and clockers
at racetracks and training centers throughout South Florida with most of
the tracks closed on Sunday morning, and high-profile names on the work
tabs included Hansen, Mucho Macho Man and Presious Passion at
Gulfstream Park and Soldat, Awesome Feather, It’s Tricky and Pants on
Fire at Palm Meadows.
Kendall Hansen and Sky Chai Racing’s undefeated 2-year-old Hansen went
an easy half-mile in 53 flat for trainer Mike Maker in his first
recorded workout since his thrilling wire-to-wire head victory over
favorite Union Rags in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at
Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.
A flashy roan/gray Kentucky homebred by Tapit, Hansen won his only two
previous starts at Turfway Park by double-digit margins and his
connections and racing fans await the results of Eclipse Award balloting
as the vote is expected to be close between him and Union Rags.
Harvey Clarke and partners’ 3-year-old Soldat
However, the son of War Front went on to finish a disappointing fifth as the favorite behind Dialed In in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) and 11th of 19 in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his last appearance under colors. Soldat breezed three furlongs in 36 flat Saturday morning in his first workout since the Derby.