Hansen, the 2-year-old champion of 2011 who is among the favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 March 24 at the Churchill Downs Trackside Training Center.
The workout time for the gray/roan son of Tapit was the slowest among six horses working the distance.
Hansen worked in fractional times of :12 1/5, :24 1/5, :36 4/5 and :48 4/5, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 4/5.
The work earned Hansen a trip to Trackside’s sand pen, where he spent several minutes rolling and playing in the damp sand while he cooled out following his training move.
“He’s just fit and happy,” trainer Mike Maker said. “We’re just trying to more or less keep him relaxed.”
Owned by Dr. Kendall Hansen and Harvey Diamond, Hansen is being pointed toward the April 14 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.
Hansen, winner of the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct March 3, has earned $1,473,305. His championship campaign of 2011 was capped by a victory in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
