Hansen

"The Kentucky Cup Juvenile built a proud history during its first 15 runnings at Turfway Park when it was won by such standouts as Boston Harbor, Point Given, and Vindication. And when the $100,000 Juvenile was run Saturday for the first time since 2008, the winner looked like he just might be capable of upholding that tradition. Hansen, a flashy gray colt making just his second start, blew away his seven opponents in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile, taking command shortly after the start of the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race and widening throughout, winning by 13 1/4 lengths. The colt's breeder, owner, and namesake, Dr. Kendall Hansen, entered the winner's circle with a delirious gaze. 'He's a rock star,' said Hansen. Ridden by Victor Lebron and trained by Mike Maker, Hansen finished in 1:45.83 and returned $3 as the heavy favorite after winning his career debut 15 days beforehand by 12 lengths. Fine finished second, another 1 1/2 lengths before Downtown Driggs." YouTube

Sire: Tapit, a gray horse. Hansen got his color from his sire. His dam was a dark bay called Stormy Sunday
Grandsire: Pulpit
Dam: Stormy Sunday
Damsire: Sir Cat
Sex: Colt
Foaled: April 23, 2009
Country" United States
Color: Gray
Breeder: Kendall E. Hansen
Owner: Kendall E. Hansen, Sky Chai Stables
Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Record: 7: 4-2-0
Earnings: $1,623,305
Major wins: Breeders'Cup Juvenile (2011), Kentucky Cup Juvenile (2011), Gotham Stakes (2012), Iowa Derby (2012)
Awards: American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (2011)

Hansen (foaled April 23, 2009 in Kentucky), nicknamed 'White Lightning' and 'The Great White Hope', is a grey American Thoroughbred racehorse. Out of the Sir Cat mare Stormy Sunday, he is sired by Tapit. He is registered as "gray or roan" under the rules of The Jockey Club, but is a gray. He is notable for having a hair coat that has grayed out to white far more rapidly than is typical, which led sportscaster Frank DeFord to describe him as a "four-legged Steve Martin." He is named after his owner, Dr. Kendall Hansen. He is trained by Mike Maker and his regular jockey is Ramon Dominguez.

In his two-year-old season, Hansen was lightly raced. He had two wins at Turfway Park over distances of 1 1/16 miles and 5 1/2 furlongs. He then went to Churchill Downs and won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by a nose over Union Rags. on November 5, 2011. Sent off at odds of 7-1. Hansen broke sharply from post 5 under Dominguez and set fractions of :23.26, :47.39, and 1:12.24 on a fast main track with Speightscity, Fort Loudon and Creative Cause tracking him early. He led down the backstrect with favorite Union Rags right behind but managed to hold onto the lead to win by a head. Hansen earned $1,080,000 for his win. He subsequently was voted 2011 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.

Hansen began his three-year-old season with the first loss of his carrer in the Holy Bull Stakes on January 29, 2012. Hansen stumbled out of the gate but went shortly afterward to the front with an opening fraction of 23.64 and opening half-mile in 45.67. The effort wore him out as he tired in deep strecth as Algorithms blew by leaving Hansen behind who finished second in front of My Adonis. On March 3, 2011, Hansen won the Grade III Gotham Stakes in a time of 1:43.84.

Hansen's most controversial appearance was in the Blue Grass Stakes, due to pre-race controversy when his eponymous owner dyed the horse's white tail blue as a promotional stunt. Under pressure from the track stewards, who sent security to the barn to seize and test the dye container, his trainer washed out the dye. Hansen proceeded to place second in the race, losing to Dullahan.

On May 5, 2012 Hansen finished 9th in the 2012 Kentucky Derby he ran 3rd until the end when he tired and dropped back. Next racing on June 30, 2012, Hansen won the Iowa Derby. Dominguez flew from Belmont Park to Iowa after a day's riding in New York to guide the colt to his win.

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