Hansen Second in Blue Grass Stakes

Thirteen horses were entered in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday-Hansen did not scare anybody away! What a pleasure it is to watch the nearly white colt. Between his distinctive color and his bright yellow silks, it is easy to follow his race.

Actually in this particular race it was especially easy to follow him since he broke sharply, went straight to the lead and stayed there until Dullahan caught him about three strides before the wire. Actually Dullahan ran an amazing race, flying from tenth to first down the stretch, hitting his stride and moving into that second gear that I think eluded Hansen.

Take nothing say from the white colt. He ran a good race and now both he and Union Rags are going into the Derby having had disappointing final preps. Makes for an interesting first Saturday in May, doesn't it.

Hansen got beat up pretty bad by his jockey who started hitting him at the top of the stretch desperate for the second gear. This race may have taken a lot out of him. Union Rags, by contrast had an easy time of it in the Florida Derby where he really didn't run until the stretch.

Personally I don't think Hansen will be in the money on May 5 and don't rule out Dullahan, half brother to Mine That Bird, another late stalker. Also remember that this race was on poly track while the KY Derby is on dirt. No factors of dirt flying in the face on polytrack.

One thing Hansen did do, however, was run the race exactly how one should run the KY Derby: break well; go to the front; set the pace and then pull away down the stretch. The only thing missing was the pulling away which may have been a result of fast fractions in the early going.

Do you have your Derby horse yet? Dullahan just might be making his way onto my list but I still love Union Rags.