Turfway Park: Hogy wins Hansel off long layoff

FLORENCE, Ky. – Hogy returned from a six-month layoff in terrific fashion Saturday when rolling to a 6 3/4-length victory in the $50,000 Hansel Stakes at Turfway Park.

With Tanner Riggs aboard for owner Alice Mettler and trainer Joel Berndt, Hogy swept past the front-running filly, She’s Ready Made, at the quarter pole and was never challenged from there. He returned $12.40 as third choice in a field of 10 3-year-olds after finishing six furlongs in 1:10.33 over Polytrack.

Magical Season was along late to be second, another half-length before Thomas Jefferson. Lockout, the 9-5 favorite, was never a serious factor when fourth.

A Kentucky-bred gelding by Offlee Wild, Hogy had not raced since finishing fifth in the Arlington-Washington Futurity last September. He opened his career with three straight wins before that defeat.

Berndt was in from Chicago to revel in the victory. “This horse just loves the Poly,” he said. “We’ll take him back to Hawthorne and maybe look at something at Keeneland next.”

The $2 exacta (9-3) paid $71.40 and the $2 trifecta (9-3-10) returned $521.60.