Gulfstream Park: Hansen's sharp work tops busy morning

A trio of potential Kentucky Derby trail candidates breezed at Gulfstream on Saturday, led by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Hansen, who went five furlongs in 1:00.40 shortly after the track opened at 5:45 a.m. Breaking three lengths behind stablemate Lonesome Street, Hansen posted splits of 24.60 and 36.60 seconds before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.40 while three lengths in front of his partner at the wire.

Trainer Dale Romans had his top two 3-year-old hopefuls, O’Prado Again and Dullahan, out for easy maintenance moves on Saturday. Both went a half-mile, O’Prado Again in 51.30 and Dullahan a slightly quicker 51.10. They were joined by stablemate Shackleford, who also breezed a very easy four furlongs in 50.80. Shackleford, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, is expected to make his 2012 debut in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 11.

Force Freeze, second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, was one of the last horses to work here Saturday and like the Romans trio was not asked for speed at any point of his half-mile drill, which he completed in 50.01 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:03.28.

“I thought he looked good for his first work back,” Walder said as Force Freeze was pulling up.