LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Hansen led from gate to wire in Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile and outlasted previously undefeated Union Rags to win by a head.
Hansen, whose two previous starts resulted in runaway victories at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky, ran the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.44. Creative Cause got home third.
Union Rags was somewhat victimized by a wide trip around both turns.
Hansen is a Kentucky-bred son of Tapit, trained by Mike Maker and ridden Saturday by Ramon Dominguez.
His victory was a bit of a triumph of blue collar over blue blood. Union Rags was heavily favored after impressive victories in his last two starts -- graded stakes on the New York circuit. Hansen is owned by a Kentucky doctor, Kendall Hansen, who says he paid his way through medical school by betting on the horses and his colt's biggest win came in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile against lesser competition.
"He's named after my family," Hansen said. "I hope a lot of you fell in love with Hansen today and we look forward to his 3-year-old campaign." He said he hopes to be in the winner's circle again with the light gray colt in six months' time -- after the 2012 Kentucky Derby.
Creative Cause came to the Breeders' Cup off a win in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita. Dullahan, winner of the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, finished fourth Saturday.
