Hansen sometimes got more attention for his owner’s attempts to have his tail dyed blue (over racing traditionalists’ objections) than for his racing merits, but he was a champion on the track at 2 and raced creditably at 3. Exported to Korea, he has become a successful and popular sire in his new country.
Race record
9 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,810,805
2011
2012:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2011)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Union Rags at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 2011.
As an individual
A gray who went white early, Hansen is an attractive horse with powerful hindquarters. He was described by those who handled him as a young horse as intelligent and willing to please. He was retired due to a tendon injury while in training for the 2012 Travers Stakes (USA-G1).
As a stallion
Hansen stood one season at Ashford Stud before being exported to South Korea in late 2013. His best runner in the United States has been 2020 Spiral Stakes (USA-G3) winner Fast and Accurate.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hansen was bred and owned by Dr. Kendall Hansen, who raced the colt in partnership with Skychai Racing. Hansen was trained by Mike Maker and was ridden to his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by Ramon Dominguez. He was exported to South Korea in late 2013 after standing his first season at Ashford Stud.
Pedigree notes
Hansen is inbred 5x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native, 5x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, and 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat. His dam Stormy Sunday, a winner of three of her four starts, is out of the winner Thinkin’strait (by multiple graded stakes winner Highland Park, by Raise a Native), the only foal produced from the Temperence Hill mare Tescudera.
Tescudera, in turn, is out of Thorn Apple (by the stakes-winning Nashua horse Stevward), who ran out of the money in her only start. Thorn Apple was produced from Simply Elegant (by 1956 Remsen Stakes winner Ambehaving, by Ambiorix), a half sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Mighty Return (by On to Glory). Produced from the Turn-to mare Elite Turn, Simply Elegant is also a half sister to Elite Dancer (by Northern Jove), dam of 1993 Budweiser Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ozama (by Morning Bob), multiple listed stakes winner Elite Jeblar (by Jeblar), and multiple stakes winner Elite Mercedes (by Mercedes Won).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 2, 2025
Race record
9 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,810,805
2011
- Won Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Bluegrass Cat Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FA, Turfway Park)
2012:
- Won Gotham Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Iowa Derby (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Prairie Meadows)
- 2nd Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1, 9FA, Keeneland)
- 2nd Holy Bull Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2011)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Union Rags at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 2011.
As an individual
A gray who went white early, Hansen is an attractive horse with powerful hindquarters. He was described by those who handled him as a young horse as intelligent and willing to please. He was retired due to a tendon injury while in training for the 2012 Travers Stakes (USA-G1).
As a stallion
Hansen stood one season at Ashford Stud before being exported to South Korea in late 2013. His best runner in the United States has been 2020 Spiral Stakes (USA-G3) winner Fast and Accurate.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
- Led the Korean general sire list in 2020, 2023, and 2024; 2nd in 2019 and 2021; 4th in 2022; 7th in 2018.
- Led the Korean juvenile sire list in 2023 and 2024.
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
- Led the Korean general sire list in 2020, 2023, and 2024; 2nd in 2019 and 2021; 4th in 2022; 7th in 2018.
- Led the Korean juvenile sire list in 2023 and 2024.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hansen was bred and owned by Dr. Kendall Hansen, who raced the colt in partnership with Skychai Racing. Hansen was trained by Mike Maker and was ridden to his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by Ramon Dominguez. He was exported to South Korea in late 2013 after standing his first season at Ashford Stud.
Pedigree notes
Hansen is inbred 5x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native, 5x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, and 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat. His dam Stormy Sunday, a winner of three of her four starts, is out of the winner Thinkin’strait (by multiple graded stakes winner Highland Park, by Raise a Native), the only foal produced from the Temperence Hill mare Tescudera.
Tescudera, in turn, is out of Thorn Apple (by the stakes-winning Nashua horse Stevward), who ran out of the money in her only start. Thorn Apple was produced from Simply Elegant (by 1956 Remsen Stakes winner Ambehaving, by Ambiorix), a half sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Mighty Return (by On to Glory). Produced from the Turn-to mare Elite Turn, Simply Elegant is also a half sister to Elite Dancer (by Northern Jove), dam of 1993 Budweiser Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ozama (by Morning Bob), multiple listed stakes winner Elite Jeblar (by Jeblar), and multiple stakes winner Elite Mercedes (by Mercedes Won).
Fun facts
- Hansen’s nicknames included “White Lightning” and “The Great White Hope.”
- After Dr. Hansen dyed the colt’s tail blue prior to the 2012 Blue Grass Stakes as a promotional stunt, irate Keeneland officials sent track security to the barn to seize the dye container. Under pressure from the track, trainer Mike Maker washed the dye out. Hansen finally ran with a blue tail in the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, and white toy horses with blue-dyed tails were handed out to track patrons. (Unfortunately, Hansen ran fourth, spoiling the promotion.)
- Dr. Hansen originally acquired Stormy Sunday for US$5,000 out of a maiden claiming race (which she won). While Hansen was still an unraced youngster, Dr. Hansen gave the mare away. He repurchased Stormy Sunday for a reported price of “$10,000 and a watch” after Mike Maker told him that Hansen was showing considerable ability in training. Although Stormy Sunday did not produce any more stakes winners, Dr. Hansen sold subsequent foals for an aggregate of over US$1 million.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 2, 2025