Hansen: Ramon Dominguez will bid for first Kentucky Derby triumph
PICTURE: EquiSport Photos/Jessie HolmesDominguez to ride Hansen in Kentucky
USA: Ramon Dominguez, champion jockey for the last two years, will plumped for Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Hansen over Godolphin's Alpha as his Kentucky Derby mount.
Dominguez, who rode Hansen at the Breeders' Cup, has also partnered the grey in all three starts this term, including last time out when he was run down by Kentucky rival Dullahan in the Blue Grass Stakes on the Keeneland Polytrack on April 12.
The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Alpha finished second to the unbeaten Gemologist in the Wood Memorial on his most recent start, having won the Grade 3 Withers on his previous outing. Dominguez, who won his second Eclipse Award in January, is his regular rider.
In other Derby news, Rafael Bejarano will ride Gemologist's Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate El Padrino, while Borderland Derby winner Isn't He Clever has joined Steve Asmussen from Henry Dominguez's barn with an eye on the Kentucky Derby.
A winner of four of his eight career starts, Isn't He Clever was second to fellow Kentucky contender Daddy Nose Best, also trained by Asmussen, in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby in New Mexico on March 26.
He was eighth behind Kentucky favourite Bodemeister in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn earlier this month.
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