Champion colt returns in Holy Bull Stakes

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01/27/2012 - Hallandale Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two weeks after being announced as the 2011 Eclipse Award winning two-year-old colt, Hansen makes his 2012 debut in Sunday's $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Holy Bull is part of the track's stakes series for Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Trained by Mike Maker, Hansen has been made the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the six-horse field. The three-year-old, owned by Dr. Kendall Hansen and Sky Chai Racing, will have the services again of jockey Ramon Dominguez and start from post four.

In winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November, Hansen defeated 11-10 favorite Union Rags by a head while setting the entire pace in the 1 1/16- mile race.

Undefeated in three career starts, Hansen has gone wire-to-wire in all three races. The colt's trainer has an interesting view on that style of running.

"It's no different than a closer. You're dependant on the pace," Maker noted. "You just hope no one makes him go quicker earlier than he has to."

Hansen began his career at Turfway Park with a 12 1/4-length win and followed with a 13 1/4-length triumph at Turfway in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile. His earnings stand a $1,153,305

Another undefeated colt is the 5-2 second choice. Starlight Stable's Algorithms makes his stakes and season debut on Sunday. Regular rider Javier Castellano has the mount and the pair will break from the outside post for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"He's trained very well," Pletcher said. "His first two races have been excellent, he's bred to stretch out and we're optimistic he's a top-level colt."

Algorithms first raced last June at Belmont Park and posted a five-length win as the 7-10 favorite. His only other start was last month at Gulfstream when he registered a length victory over Holy Bull rival Consortium.

In the December race Consortium was the 4-5 favorite and had the lead down the stretch before giving way to Algorithms. Consortium has drawn post two for Sunday's rematch and will be ridden by John Velazquez.

Consortium is owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. Three weeks ago at Aqueduct, owner and trainer sent out Alpha to win the Count Fleet Stakes.

Here is the full field for the Holy Bull in post position order: Silver Max, Julien Leparoux; Consortium, John Velazquez; My Adonis, Elvis Trujillo; Hansen, Ramon Dominguez; Fort Loudon, Rajiv Maragh and Algorithms, Javier Castellano.

Post-time for the Holy Bull is 4:45 p.m. (et).

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
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New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
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The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
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nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
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Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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