Hansen (horse)

Hansen
Hansen
	Hansen wins the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Sire	Tapit
Grandsire	Pulpit
Dam	Stormy Sunday
Damsire	Sir Cat
Sex	Colt
Foaled	April 23, 2009
Country	United States
Colour	Gray
Breeder	Kendall E. Hansen
Owner	Kendall E. Hansen, Sky Chai Stables
Trainer	Michael J. Maker
Record	9: 5–2–0
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)

Last updated December 12, 2022

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 famous for having a 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.^[1] He is named after his owner and breeder, Dr. Kendall Hansen. He was trained by Mike Maker, and his regular jockey was Ramon Dominguez.

Racing career

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. After winning the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes, he then went to Churchill Downs and won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile over Union Rags.^[2] 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 backstretch with favorite Union Rags right behind and held onto the lead to win by a head. Hansen earned $1,080,000 for the victory and subsequently was voted 2011 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.^[3]

Hansen began his three-year-old season with the first loss of his career in the Holy Bull Stakes on January 29, 2012. He stumbled out of the gate and then went to the front with an opening fraction of 23.64 and opening half-mile in 45.67. He tired in deep stretch and was passed by Algorithms, ultimately finishing second in front of My Adonis.^[4] On March 3, 2011, Hansen won the Grade III Gotham Stakes in a time of 1:43.84.^[5]

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 placed second in the race behind Dullahan.^[6]

On May 5, 2012, Hansen finished 9th in the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Early in the race, he ran in third place before tiring and dropping back.^[4] Next racing on June 30, 2012, he 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.^[7] On August 4, 2012, Hansen finished fourth in the West Virginia Derby to Macho Macho. While he was preparing for the Travers, a tear in his tendon was discovered.^[8]

Retirement and stud career

Hansen was officially retired from racing in September 2012 after his injury and stood at Ashford Stud in for the 2013 breeding season. In October 2013, he was sold to interests in South Korea, where he joined other notable American Thoroughbreds exported to that nation. On January 28, 2014, Hansen was represented by his first foal, a chestnut colt out of the mare Havelsee, later named Mookie.

On June 5, 2016, gelding Hansen's Victory (owned by North American Thoroughbred Horse Company, Russell Morrison, and Peter Tom) won a maiden special weight at Hastings Racecourse, becoming his sire's first recognized winner.

As of 2017, Hansen's best progeny includes Fast and Accurate, who won the 2017 Spiral Stakes (Hansen's first graded stakes winner), and stakes winners En Hanse and Han Sense. He has also been represented by stakes placed runners Lady Hansen, The Walk, Two Charley's, and Hansenation.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Hansen, gray colt, 2009
Sire Tapit gr. 2001	Pulpit dkb/br. 1994	A.P. Indy dkb/br. 1989	Seattle Slew
		A.P. Indy dkb/br. 1989	Weekend Surprise
		Preach b. 1989	Mr. Prospector
		Preach b. 1989	Narrate
	Tap Your Heels gr/r. 1996	Unbridled b. 1987	Fappiano
		Unbridled b. 1987	Gana Facil
		Ruby Slippers gr.1982	Nijinsky II
		Ruby Slippers gr.1982	Moon Glitter
Dam Stormy Sunday br. 2002	Sir Cat dkb/br. 1993	Storm Cat br. 1983	Storm Bird
		Storm Cat br. 1983	Terlingua
		Desert Run b. 1989	Private Account
		Desert Run b. 1989	April Run
	Thinkin'strait b. 1992	Highland Park ch. 1980	Raise a Native
		Highland Park ch. 1980	Old Goat
		Tescudera b. 1987	Temperence Hill
		Tescudera b. 1987	Thorn Apple

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References

↑ "Home Page Top Stories". NPR.org. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
↑ Mark Simon (January 16, 2012). "Champion two-year-old male: Hansen". The Thoroughbred Times.
↑ Tom LaMarra (January 16, 2012). "Another easy victory for Hansen". Bloodhorse.
1 2 Jack Shinar (January 29, 2012). "Algorithms Derails Champ Hansen in Holy Bull". Bloodhorse.
↑ Jason Shandler (March 3, 2012). "Hansen relaxes early romps in Gotham". Bloodhorse.
↑ Novak, Claire (April 15, 2012). "One Favorite Rolls, but Another Tails off". The New York Times.
↑ Tom LaMarra (June 30, 2012). "Hansen Romps in Iowa Derby Return". BloodHorse.
↑ Miami Herald ^{[ dead link ]}

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[1] "Home Page Top Stories". NPR.org. Retrieved December 11, 2022.

[HOY-2] Mark Simon (January 16, 2012). "Champion two-year-old male: Hansen". The Thoroughbred Times.

[3] Tom LaMarra (January 16, 2012). "Another easy victory for Hansen". Bloodhorse.

[bloodhorse.com-4] 1 2 Jack Shinar (January 29, 2012). "Algorithms Derails Champ Hansen in Holy Bull". Bloodhorse.

[5] Jason Shandler (March 3, 2012). "Hansen relaxes early romps in Gotham". Bloodhorse.

[6] Novak, Claire (April 15, 2012). "One Favorite Rolls, but Another Tails off". The New York Times.

[7] Tom LaMarra (June 30, 2012). "Hansen Romps in Iowa Derby Return". BloodHorse.

[8] Miami Herald ^{[ dead link ]}

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