En Hanse was in power mode right out of the gate in the $50,000 WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park Saturday.
The three-year-old lengthened stride to get the early lead, rolled wide around the final turn and drew away to win by 3 1/2 lengths over 1-2 favorite Star Empire.
Hunka Burning Love was another length back in third.
Breaking from the rail with Abel Lezcano aboard, En Hanse clocked fractions of :22.46, :44.95 and 1:09.32 before finishing the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.84, just a tick off the track record of 1:15.35.
The WEBN Stakes is the first local prep for the $500,000 JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes on March 25. Winning trainer Mike Maker plans to bring En Hanse back to Turfway for the second prep, the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on March 4.
“We were disappointed in his last race (an off-the-board finish in the Space City Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park),” said Maker. “He didn’t get away well and he didn’t like the dirt in his face. But he vindicated us today.”
Maker also trains Hunka Burning Love, who finished third, and Hey Mike, who was fourth. Following were Sailin’ Shoes, My Foolish Beau and Party On Dude. Preemptive Strike, Noshackleshere, Cake Pop, Bound for Nowhere and What’s On Tap were scratched by their trainers.
Sent off at 5-1, En Hanse paid $13.20, $4 and $2.60.
En Hanse is owned by Kendall Hansen, M.D., and Bode Miller and is a son of the physician’s eponymous homebred Eclipse champion, Hansen who was subsequently sold to stand in South Korea. En Hanse is among Hansen’s only crop to be foaled in the United States.
The WEBN Stakes is En Hanse’s first black type win and improved his record to three wins and one third in seven starts. His purse earnings now total $65,337.
Presenting the trophy to the winning connections was KiddChris, popular DJ for race sponsor WEBN, iHeart Media’s Cincinnati rock radio station.
Turfway Park