Preakness profiles: Hence

Staff Reports

In our Preakness profiles, we look into each of Saturday’s Preakness contenders.

WHO IS HENCE?

One of two Steve Asmussen trainees in this race, this son of Street Boss jumped into the national eye with a dominant win in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby, defeating next-out Arkansas Derby runner-up Conquest Mo Money and next-out Grade 2 Bluegrass winner in the process. Though he became something of a wise guy horse going into the Kentucky Derby, he was a thoroughly beaten 11th.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT HENCE

“I didn’t think Hence ran his race at all in the Derby,” Asmussen said. “Watching in the grandstand the first time by, he just was kind of jumping up and down. I believe it was from all the kickback from the off racetrack. We expected him to come out of it like he hadn’t exerted himself, and I think that’s what he’s shown. He’s a very impressive individual and he’s still training very well.”

WHY HE COULD WIN

Hence’s Sunland Derby triumph was one of the more visually impressive Derby preps of the season, and subsequent efforts by his beaten rivals seemed to validate it. If he works out a clean trip and gets a pace to run at, he should be on the move in the race’s late stages.

WHY HE COULD LOSE

He showed little in the Kentucky Derby, and three rivals who finished well ahead of him return for this event. In addition, he seems unlikely to get as lively a pace as he’ll need. It’s not clear, yet,if he fits with this sort of company.