Lazy Lane Farm's champion Hansel (Woodman–Count on Bonnie, by Dancing Court), winner of the GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S. in 1991, was euthanized Tuesday due to infirmities of old age, the farm announced. He was 29 years old.
Bred in Virginia by Marvin Little, Jr., Hansel was a $150,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase who won the GII Arlington-Washington Futurity and GIII Tremont S. and placed in the GI Hopeful S. as a 2-year-old. Capturing the GII Jim Beam S. in track record time the following spring, he repeated by nine lengths in the GII Lexington S. and was 10th as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby before annexing the final two legs of the Triple Crown en route to Eclipse honors for champion 3-year-old that season.
Sold to Gainsborough Farm at the conclusion of his racing career, he stood for five seasons there, two seasons at Questroyal Farm in New York and briefly took up stud duty in Japan. Repurchased by Lazy Lane in 2005, he was officially pensioned in 2012 after siring five group/graded winners, including French G1SW Loving Claim.
“He was a very talented racehorse and a consummate gentleman on the farm,” said Lazy Lane general manager Frank Shipp. “He gave so much to us and to his fans. We will all miss him dearly.”
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