It was an exciting late run for OLYMPIAD’s Sir Hansen on Sunday at Ellis Park when he dead heated for the win in a Maiden Special Weight.
Racing a mile on the turf, Sir Hansen was among the first out of the gate and angled over to the rail to race a few lengths behind the top two horses. He kept that spot throughout the backstretch and far turn with the colt not getting serious until the stretch.
Angled to the outside by Yedsit Hazlewood, he steadily closed inside the final furlong to draw even with Good to Be King as they hit the line.
This was the Mike Maker-trained OLYMPIAD son’s debut after registering impressive works in the weeks leading up to this start. Racing for Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, Sir Hansen was a $130,000 yearling purchase.
He is the second winner from two to race out of the two-time winning Ri N Ginger, whose first foal is a four-time winner. Ri N Ginger is a half-sister to Canadian champion God of Love and stakes winner Muskoka Wonder.
The family also includes dual Grade 1 winner Weemissfrankie and Grade 1 winner Stormy Pick as well.
This is the third winner for OLYMPIAD, who was also popular at the recent Fasig-Tipton July sale with his yearlings selling for up to $180,000.