Hansen might also join the Preakness mix says Dr. Kendall Hansen
It could be a last minute decision on whether Hansen is going for the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on 19 May, 2012, said Dr. Kendall Hansen, who owns the colt in partnership with SkyChai Racing.
The statement was issued after Hansen galloped 1 ¼ miles on 11 May, 2012, at Churchill Downs and looked in good shape to go for another race, possibly the middle jewel this time.
However, it all depends on who is running in the Preakness Stakes, and most importantly how Hansen is doing leading up to the Preakness, as these sorts of variables generally aid in deciding the connections.
Dr. Hansen also said that these things mainly come down to trainer Michael Matz, and if he feels that he should run than there is no going back.
He further went on to say that the goal for Hansen this year is to win another Eclipse Award this year, and if the light gray three-year-old colt has any chance of achieving that, than this is the time to atone for his Kentucky Derby 9th place
finish and either win the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes.
"It is a tough call," Hansen said of the Preakness. "We want him to be the three-year-old champion, but to do that, he has to win one of the classics.
"The mile and three-sixteenths (of the Preakness) may be a little bit out of his best distance. I think he is best between seven and nine furlongs but he can go more than nine if he is calm and relaxed like he was in the (Grade 3) Gotham."
In the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct racetrack on 3 March, 2012, Hansen was pegged back by his jockey, and by doing so, the rider was leaving the Kentucky bred Tapit colt in unknown waters.
Being a front-wheeler, Hansen couldn’t win all races by being so one dimensional, so his closing abilities were put to the test, and the colt passed in flying colours as he stalked and stalked, and when he got the opening he was here to put the race to
bed.
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