Hence took command in the stretch and pulled away to a three-and-three-quarter length victory in the G3 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park March 26.
The win earned the three-year-old son of Street Boss 50 points toward a potential start in the G1 Kentucky Derby May 6.
Breaking a step slowly, Hence was settled toward the rear of the field early by jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr. The chestnut colt began to close in on the leaders on the backstretch, and was in full flight as the field swept through the far turn. At the top of the stretch he turned on the afterburners, shooting past the frontrunners to take command and pull away for the sharp victory.
Racing as a homebred for Calumet Farm, Hence is out of Floating Island, by A.P. Indy. Floating Island is a half-sister to multiple Graded Stakes winner Pico Teneriffe (by Red Ransom), the dam of two-time Canadian Champion Older Horse, Marchfield.
Street Boss is the sire of 2017 multiple Stakes winner Rapper Dragon, recent winner of the Hong Kong Derby (a local G1). He is also the sire of 2016 G1 winners Cathryn Sophia, an impressive winner of the G1 Kentucky Oaks, and Decked Out, who took the G1 American Oaks on December 31.
