Aqueduct: Hansen will train in Kentucky, return to New York for Wood

Hansen emerged from his three-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham Stakes “great, no worse for the wear,” according to trainer Mike Maker and in all likelihood last year’s 2-year-old champion colt will return to New York for the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 7.

On Monday, Hansen was scheduled to van from Belmont Park to Turfway Park, where he will reside for a few days before relocating to the Churchill Downs’s Trackside training facility, which is expected to open next Friday.

Though Hansen is 2 for 2 at Turfway Park, Maker said the Wood Memorial “makes more sense” than does the $500,000 Spiral Stakes there on March 24 from a timing stand point.

“That was one of the main reasons for going to the Gotham,” Maker said after arriving in Kentucky Sunday afternoon. “That was our plan. I think we’ll be on the same page for the Wood.”

Hansen won the Gotham by three lengths, but showed the ability to rate off another horse and overcame being five-wide entering the first turn. He covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.84 over an Aqueduct inner track labeled good and was assigned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.

“Hopefully, we maintain where we’re at right now,” Maker said. “That’s kind of how we’d like to see him handle the pace scenario like he did.”

Though Hansen had 12 challengers in the Gotham, it remains to be seen how many he will face in the Wood. Trainer Kelly Breen said Gotham runner-up My Adonis would remain in New York and be pointed for the Wood. Other colts whose connections are pointing to the Wood are The Lumber Guy, winner of the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel, and Our Entourage, who is 2 for 2 on turf but 0 for 2 on dirt.