HANSEN - 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile + Pre & Post Race

Saturday's Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile wasn't decided until the wire, with the speedy Hansen outlasting favored Union Rags by a head. But the race was won around the Juvenile's two turns.

Front-running Hansen was able to carve out a trouble-free trip in the 1 1/16-mile race, establishing a clear lead on the inside -- in stark contrast to Union Rags, who after breaking from post 10, was shuffled back to sixth early and hung four to five wide throughout.

Although Union Rags was able to threaten in the lane, testing Hansen to the limit, his closing punch was not enough to overcome his significant ground loss. The data-tracking service Trakus measured Union Rags as having raced 78 feet more than the winner.

"I tried to cover up, but I never had the opportunity," said his jockey, Javier Castellano.

The winner made his own luck, thanks to his natural quickness. After a fairly lively opening quarter-mile in 23.26 seconds, he settled under Ramon Dominguez down the backstretch with half-mile in 47.39 and three-quarters in 1:12.24.

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