Hymn Book’s connections celebrate his seasonal success in the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap on 11th February at the Gulfstream Park
The Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap on Saturday 11th February at the Gulfstream Park, Florida was won by, Hymn Book, trained by C. McGaughey, and was ridden by John Velasquez.
He sure baffled his connections with the thrilling victory that was least expected given the highly competitive, and versatile lineup. After all it had the 3 to 1 favourite, Shackleford, who had claimed one of the legs of the Triple Crown, the Grade
1 Preakness Stakes in 2011.
The six-year-old gelding owned by Stuart Janney III, concluded the race with an exciting nose victory, setting Mission Impazible in the runner up’s position.
The pace setter for the race was the undefeated then, and most surely defeated now, Trickmeister, who was riding with Ramon Dominguez.
He had Shackleford closely racing at the heels and trying to surpass the leader. Mission Impazible, and Redeemed had chosen their racing slots right behind the leading pair. Hymn Book led from the fifth position on a field of eleven.
Mission Impazible paved his way through Trickmeister toward the inside of the track, and overhauled him when the two got to the top of the stretch. In the meanwhile, Hymn Book was making his case strong on the outside of the track, and got tagged with
Redeemed in order to get to the leader, Mission Impazible.
Hymn Book soon threw Mission Impazible off the pace by surpassing him when nearing the sixteenth pole, and thus dominated the concluding yards of the race. He put the race to bed in a minute and 49.16 seconds, leading by 3 ¼ lengths, and the one finishing
the closest to the winner was Mission Impazible.
Reserving the third position in the race was Redeemed ridden by E. Prado and under R. Dutrow’s training.
“It worked out perfect," Velazquez said. "I wanted to come out running and go onto the first turn and try to get some kind of position and not be too far back. He broke well enough to save some ground into the first turn and I was able to kind of give
up a little bit at the quarter pole. When I pulled him out he came running. He put up a good fight down the stretch.”
This was Hymn Book’s seasonal debut, and before this in 2011, he had raced six times out of which he was successful in two, and was placed thrice. He won the Three Coins Up Stakes on 19th May at Belmont Park, and on 20th October
Hymn Book claimed the Firethorn Stakes at Belmont Park again.
Coming second in the Grade 2, Suburban Handicap on 2nd July and in the Grade 1, Cigar Mile on 26th November were Hymn Book’s note worthy accomplishments.
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