Hansen heads Iowa Derby field

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Altoona, IA (Sports Network) - Eclipse Award winner Hansen tops a field of five for Saturday's $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. The three-year- olds will be asked to cover 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Hansen, trained by Mike Maker, has the advantageous inside post with Ramon Dominguez again riding the nearly all white colt. Dominguez has been aboard the 2011 champion two-year-old for the last five starts, beginning with a win in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Owned by Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing, Hansen has won four of his seven career starts for more than $1.6 million. This will be the colt's first start since finishing ninth to I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Hansen began 2012 by coming up second to Algorithms in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29. He came back strong in March with a win at Aqueduct in the Gotham Stakes but faded to second in the Blue Grass Stakes behind Dullahan.

Although definite for the Iowa Derby, Hansen is also entered in Saturday's $400,000 Red Legend Stakes at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

Louisiana Derby winner Hero of Order will break from post three with Ken Tohill in the saddle. Trained by owner Gennadi Dorochenko, the colt has failed to duplicate his Fair Grounds victory since he pulled off the 109-1 upset.

Hero of Order was 13th in the Blue Grass Stakes and fifth in an allowance race in May. He's coming off an eighth-place finish in the Arlington Classic on grass five weeks ago.

The colt has banked $661,722 with two wins in 17 lifetime starts. The Iowa Derby will be his first start on real dirt since claiming the Louisiana Derby.

Hero of Order will be joined by stablemate Macho Bull.

From the rail out here is the field for the Iowa Derby: Hansen, Ramon Dominguez; Alsvid, Chris Landeros; Hero of Order, Ken Tohill; Macho Bull, Jake Barton and Truetap, Julien Leparoux.

Post-time for the Iowa Derby is set for 10:40 p.m. (et).