Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Stake horse — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:43:52 GMT

Let's face it Hanson has not had one bad step he has won every race and impresively .

Hanson and Union Rags both raced on the same track the same day and Hanson won.

There is no debate Hanson is the better horse .

I have bred and raced many horses I only dream of a horse like Hanson.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Stake horse — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:33:27 GMT

Let's face it Hanson has not had one bad step he has won every race and impresively .

Hanson and Union Rags both raced on the same track the same day and Hanson won.

There is no debate Hanson is the better horse .

I have bred and raced many horses I only dream of a horse like Hanson.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Melanie — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:04:30 GMT

Dr. Hansen,

I just loved watching Hansen run! I haven't been this excited about a 2yo in a long time. Can you tell me how he compares to his great-granddaddy, Seattle Slew? He too loved to burn up the tracks. Is he as "professional" as he appears, though only being 2? This should only bode well for the future.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Mike Relva — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:56:02 GMT

Dr. Hansen

I have to agree Hansen is an exciting horse to watch, providing he stays healthy. He ran a great race. Union Rags didn't enjoy a desirable post and ran wide most of the way.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Carlos in Cali — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:05:14 GMT

KY VET

How did those beyers work out for you in the BC?..

Face it,UM had distance limitations and nothing more.He was good not great.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Carlos in Cali — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:57:28 GMT

Well said Dr.Hansen,I can't wait to see him on the track next year as he certainly should have a growth spurt to go along with that turbo-engine he has.

A monster in the making!

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

tonka — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:36:21 GMT

Footlick I agree. The comparison is not fair.Man O' War and any horse are notin the same category. Not only did he carry extreme weight, he also raced with only 7 or 8 days between races. I doubt very seriously that we will see another like him.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

KY VET — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:59:40 GMT

What is going on with this dissing of UNCLE MO??? Maybe you people dont know a great horse when you see one! One of the best beyers ever 108 as a 2 yr old......by far the top beyer as 3 yr old 118 !!! Why the disrespect? Just because he got sick? This is why i can make a living betting this game! You people dont understand the game!

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Dr. Hansen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:50:13 GMT

I love the debate here. I hope the rivalry continues on the track.

Union Rags is a magnificent looking athlete. I am a fan. Did u all know Union Rags and Hansen are friends on FaceBook?...lol This rivalry is great for our for our sport. Also, I think it may be mistake to leave Creative Cause out of the discussion. Mr. Harrington had to tuck in behind and hope Hansen would tire. I would have used similar tactics. All three horses will grow and get stronger. We intend to help Hansen impove the most. We will all also have to contend with additional competitive horses coming on the scene. We are not content and will do all possible to help Hansen reach his full potential. I think he will have a big growth spurt. Hansen has an amazing gate. Have you seen how far he extends his hoofs past his nose? Mr. Maker told me after his second work out before the championship that he is totally conviced there is no problem with Hansen getting 10 furlongs. As far as the running of the race we feel Hansen "earned" his track position. He has an amazing engine. He runs professionally and not erratic. Hansen's first two races were almost play to him.....not even winded))) and after the Breeders Cup he was bucking a kicking after the race. He loves the track and running more that any horse I have seen. He is so happy out there!! It was very useful for Hansen to finally see another horse come into his field of vision

Note that no horse has yet to be in front of Hansen .....at any call...in a race or workout. He will not allow it. If there was a rail bias and front running bias at Churchill how many lengths do you think Hansen would have won by? There is only one undefeated Grade One stakes winner in the world.

The best thing I can say on Hansen's behalf is that if Mike Maker and I thought the 2 year old championship would be decided in New York at the Champagne Stakes, ....we would have taken Hansen there. Mr. Maker, from the very beginning pointed to the Breeders Cup Juvenile as we thought that was "The World Championship". The other races in our opinion were "prep" races or a vehicle to qualify for November 5th showdown.

I am confindent Hansen will not disappoint next year and bring proper distinction to the Eclipse Award. We look forward to future rematches with Union Rags.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

KY VET — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:48:15 GMT

Why is it when a horse loses, you people say all of these things? The horse hated the track, distance,weather,jockey,blah blah blah...A horse wins on a poly track and you all say that horse won because he loves poly? Do you people know what a dirt track has in it? many many different things...how about poly ,pro ride etc... many diff things........MAYBE THE HORSE WAS JUST READY TO FIRE! EVER THINK OF THAT?

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Mike Relva — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:30:17 GMT

GIO PONTI

The door swings both ways.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Footlick — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:52:44 GMT

Gio Ponti- if you read everything it goes both ways. It is far from one sided. I have been asking for a long time for the subject to be dropped, and it always start up again, usually because one of the usual culprits makes an insulting remark about Zenyatta. Havre de Grace was being touted by many of them as the horse who was going to show the Zenyatta supporters how a REAL mare wins the BCC- on dirt. She didn't. Instead, she showed how hard it is to even finish second on dirt. Both sides need to drop it. Period. One side is no more to blame than the other. As for comparing Zenyatta to Man O War, imo, you cannot compare any American thoroughbred to him. Maybe Ribot and Sea Bird in Europe, but I feel, and this is just my opinion, every American thoroughbred pales. The weights he carried at two and three were staggering for a young horse. The racing secretaries told his connections that they would not start him out, as a 4 yr old, with any impost under 140. His connections decided to retire him than have him carry that weight. He was one of the most amazing animals we have ever seen on our soil. Period. It is not a fair comparison. But just my opinion.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Melanie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:43:51 GMT

ksweatman9

Do you remember the way Hansen's great-granddaddy ran? Slew was a speedburner and with the right trainer, look what he accomplished. Not too many people believed in him either, but in the end he proved everyone wrong. (Does anyone remember Slew's 2yo campaign? He won a maiden, an allowance, then took the grade I Champagne to take 2yo honors. Hansen has already done more then Slew...so why shouldn't he be 2yo champ?)

Anyway, I just happen to believe (and it sounds like you might too) that lightning just might strike in the same place twice. After all, if Slew could be taught to harness his speed and "relax", surely Hansen can too. After all, there is time to work with him.

And besides, for all those naysayers, keep in mind that when Hansen gets to CD next year for the Derby, at least we already know HE can handle the track and the dirt.

Besides, who doesn't want another Triple Crown winner? It's way past time. I just think a second undefeated Triple Crown winner decending in tail-mail from the first would be fascinating.

Hansen for 2yo champ!

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Barry Irwin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:34:42 GMT

Hansen raced on the deadest part of the track and still won. He gets my vote. Did nothing wrong at all and plenty of things right. Very admirable colt.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Stevebiscuit — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:51:42 GMT

"Zen was an awesome horse, but she was no Man O' War"

She was better.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Katie L. — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:45:49 GMT

*''2012 was last year'', more like 2010, sorry typo

And Thanks Gio Ponti! Couldn't said it better! I never understood those haters who come and hate 99% of the horses, call them overrated, hyped or whatever and trash them for no reason. Its sssoooo rare to see horses like Zenyatta or Rachel come around, especially 2 females...and especially running the same year. We should be glad, not hate

And all the hater toward any horses...seriously. Why hate horses? Beautiful animals who run their heart out. If you hate horses when they lose its cause the only thing you want is bet and make money, so you're not a real racing fan. Otherwise, there's no reason to hate horses. If a horse lose, so what? Enjoy the ride and love that animal, don't love the money he can make you win or lose...if you don't want to lose money, don't bet! And I'm sure you'll love the sport 10000x more if you don't bet.

Its like the people hating horses who can't get 1 1/4 mile....so what? I don't see hate toward sprinters, toward BC's sprint winners even if there's huge chance they can't get that distance too. Horses can be champ. in their own division. And even if they're not champs, we can still love them

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Mike Relva — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:25:48 GMT

AAF

So what happened to your "world beater horse" in the Classic?

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Katie L. — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:47:02 GMT

Seriously people, why are you talking about Zenyatta here? The tile say ''Champion 2 YO'', we're talking about Champ. 2YO of 2011...not Horse of Year of 2010. 2012 was last year, get over it.

Smarty Jones was undefeated too in 2004 and lost the TC by 1 lenght, maybe he could have won if he wasn't send too early... and what happened in 2005? People stopped talking about it and moved on. What is it so hard to do so with her? Be happy we had the chance to see a horse like that and follow her and that's it. Stop bringing the topic every single hour of every single day for the restof your life

And yeah I'm talking to you Steve. We're in 2011, going on 2012, time to let 2010 behind you.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Gio Ponti — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:03:43 GMT

Well, I am not one to award a horse for an entire YEAR'S WORK based on the results of one race. Taking both horse's records into account, and the fact that UR has 2 graded stakes victories to Hansen's one, I am of the opinion that UR should get it. Besides, I think there is too much emphasis on the BC races in general. There is the entire rest of the year, and to penalize a horse because he/she did not win whatever BC race (Easy Goer) or did not enter (Rachel), or could not enter (Criminal Type)due to injury is just asinine. The Eclipse Awards are for (Category) of the YEAR, NOT (Category) of the Breeder's Cup. Just plain stupid.

Why am I not surprised to see trashing of poor Harve de Grace by Zenyatta fanatics? Wow. I guess the thought that another female may very well be voted Horse of the Year (and she should be)must terrify them. Ramon Dominguez said Grace didn't handle the track. It happens. Plenty of horse hate Churchill (Easy Goer, Point Given, etc). Even Zenyatta at first had a hard time with the track, according to Mike Smith. Like someone else earlier said, it has been a year already. Can't we let Zenyatta/Blame go already? Zen got her HOY award. Let her be retired and all. I mean, are her fans so insecure that they have to trash every other horse to make Zenyatta appear better? They trash poor Rachel,then poor Blame, and now Grace? Get over yourselves already. Zen was an awesome horse, but she was no Man O' War.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Guiness — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:23:02 GMT

I guess the pirate couldn't leave that parrot at sea. More of the "she lost get over it" mumbo jumob. Arrrrh!!

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Ida Lee — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:22:46 GMT

Oh I forgot...2-year-old champ? Union Rags...enough said!!!

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Ida Lee — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:21:06 GMT

Great article as usual. OK..let me put my 2 cents in. Havre is gorgeous, a beauty among beauties, and her talent cannot be questioned in a serious manner. She is an incredible athlete. She is my choice for HOTY and I believe she's going to win it. BUT she's in the same class as Zenyatta? I don't think so. No one is in the same class as Zenyatta. Not even Rachel Alexandra and Rachel is the equine love of my life. Comparing Zenyatta to another filly/mare, is like comparing Secretariat to ANYBODY OR ANYTHING. Zenyatta and Secretariat are in a class all by themselves. Comparisons are futile and just don't exist.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

cbharmon24 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:10:39 GMT

There shouldn't even be a question. Hansen is the 2 Year Old Champion. He was 3 for 3 this year and beat Union Rags head to head and won the Juvenile.

Now if the question is who is the better horse? I still think Union Rags is the better horse and I like his chances better in the derby but Hansen has to get the eclipse award for 2 Year Old Champion.

Same thing as last year. Blame deserved horse of the year. Zenyatta was more popular, did more for the sport, had the better career, and was the better horse. But Blame had a better year and won their head to head matchup. Yes, it couldn't have been any more close but Blame won the race. The eclipse awards are for the top horse in the given division THAT YEAR. How popular the horse is or what else they have done in their career should not factor in to those awards. It would have been a terrible shame for Zenyatta not to win a horse of the year award but Rachel had an all-time great year the year she won and Blame did slightly more last year.

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Stevebiscuit — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:40:45 GMT

Can't even muster a rebuttal Jason? Lmao!

re: Hansen or Union Rags for 2YO Champion?

Householder — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:24:05 GMT

What was Animal Kingdom doing as a 2 year old? How about Mine that Bird? Even some of the more "classic" oriented horses. Check out Winning Colors' record as a 2 year old. How about Sunday Silence or Alysheba?

A 2 year old award does not represent much anymore.