Undefeated two-year-old Hansen got back to work for the first time since
upsetting Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, breezing an easy half-mile in :53 at
Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
A flashy gray by Tapit, the Mike Maker pupil won his only two previous starts
by a combined 25 1/2 lengths over Turfway Park’s Polytrack. Hansen made his
first start on dirt in the November 5 Juvenile at Churchill Downs, where he
posted a thrilling wire-to-wire head victory over favorite Union Rags. 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.
Hansen could make his sophomore debut in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream
on January 29.
Christmas Eve morning was very busy for horsemen and clockers at racetracks
and training centers throughout South Florida with most of the tracks closed on
Sunday morning.
Other high-profile names on the Gulfstream worktab included Grade 2 winner
Mucho Macho Man, who sizzled a half-mile in a bullet :46 2/5, best of 95 at the
distance, and multiple Grade 1 veteran Presious Passion, who clocked :51 4/5 on
the comeback trail.
At Palm Meadows, unbeaten champion Awesome Feather sped five fast-track
furlongs in 1:00 3/5. The Chad Brown filly extended her record to a perfect
eight-for-eight in the Grade 1 Gazelle last out.
Nick Zito’s well-regarded juvenile Casual Trick blitzed his five panels in a
bullet :59 3/5, fastest of 56 at the trip, in advance of his projected stakes
debut in the Gulfstream Park Derby on January 1.
Soldat, who headed to the sidelines over the summer, posted his first work
back by covering three-eighths in :36.
A big name at Gulfstream last winter, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee won an
allowance race by 10 3/4 lengths and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. The
son of War Front went on to finish a disappointing fifth as the favorite behind
Dialed In in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and 11th when last seen in the Kentucky
Derby.
Also for McLaughlin, multiple Grade 1 queen It’s Tricky went in :39, in her
first move since her runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.
Grade 1 comebacker Awesome Maria took a half-mile spin in :49 4/5, Grade 1
Diana queen Zagora strode in :48 3/5, and multiple Grade 1 scorer Teaks North,
exiting an eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, zipped in :47 1/5.