Hansen back in action for Gotham Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Ozone Park, NY (Sports Network) - Champion colt Hansen will try to make amends for a season-opening loss when he starts in Saturday's $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. The Eclipse Award winner will take on 12 rivals in the 1 1/16-mile race leading to the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 7.

Hansen, second in the Holy Bull on Jan. 29, has been made the 6-5 favorite for Saturday and will start from post 12 with Ramon Dominguez riding.

"We had some bad luck last time and people probably think we're beatable," said co-owner Dr. Kendall Hansen. "We were about 75 percent last time and were hoping for an easy spot, but we ran into a top horse in Algorithms. (Hansen) is doing well right now. We're at about 85 or 90 percent. Obviously, we want to peak in May.

"It's going to be fun, and I think we have the horse to beat. You don't want to go against the champion in his first start after a loss. He was really ticked off (after the Holy Bull)."

Winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Hansen is trained by Mike Maker and is the richest horse in the field with more than $1.2 million.

Undefeated Maan takes his first crack at a stakes race for trainer Eddie Kenneally and owner Joseph Sutton. Perfect in two starts, the colt has drawn post five with Rajiv Maragh riding, but is just 15-1 in the program. The colt broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in July and won an allowance at Gulfstream Park three weeks ago.

Breaking from the rail will be My Adonis, trained by Kelly Breen for George and Lori Hall. Elvis Trujillo will again be in the saddle where he has guided the colt to two wins in seven starts. My Adonis is the 5-1 second choice.

A stablemate of 2011 Belmont Stakes champ Ruler On Ice, My Adonis is coming off a third-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes behind Algorithms and Hansen. Last October he won the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs and was ninth in the Delta Downs Jackpot. The colt has banked $221,000.

"He was only beaten a half-length to the juvenile champion in his last race," said Breen. "We're hoping for another good effort from him."

Here is the full field for the Gotham in post position order: My Adonis, Elvis Trujillo, 5-1; Stealcase, Luis Contreras, 12-1; Finnegans Wake, Kent Desormeaux, 20-1; Pretension, Javier Santiago, 20-1; Maan, Rajiv Maragh, 15-1; Dan and Sheila, John Velazquez, 8-1; Suns Out Guns Out, Irad Ortiz Jr., 30-1; Raconteur, Cornelio Velasquez, 15-1; King and Crusader, Mike Luzzi, 15-1; Side Road, Alan Garcia, 12-1; Done Talking, David Cohen, 20-1; Hansen, Ramon Dominguez, 6-5 and Tiger Walk, Eddie Castro, 12-1.

Post-time is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.(ET).