The emerging national handicap star, Hymn Book to get back to New York races after Donn Handicap victory
Stuart S. Janney III’s 6-year-old gelding, Hymn Book, is really coming into his own this season after his emphatic nose victory over Mission Impazible in the 1 1/8 mile long Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on 11 February, 2012.
The Kentucky bred son of Arch, out of Known Fact mare Vespers, Hymn Book received a Beyer Speed Figure of 106 after his Donn victory, and trainer Claude R. McGaughey III said that the gelding will eventually return to New York , but not before going first
to Arkansas, where Hymn Book will participate in the Grade 2, $350,000 Oaklawn Park Handicap held at Oaklawn Park on 14 April, 2012.
McGaughey expects, Hymn Book, to be one of those versatile horses, who he can try on different venues, keeping New York in mind, and as far as versatility is concerned, Hymn Book, has thrived ever since he switched from turf to dirt.
Before getting gelded, Hymn Book relished his turf starts, winning 4 in as many starts, but never taking part in turf stakes races.
His immediate start after switching from turf to dirt was an instant success, when he downed, I Want Revenge and, Ron the Greek, in the Three Coins Up Stakes at Belmont Park, over at 1 1/8 miles, as he covered the distance in 1 minute and 47.16 seconds.
Hymn Book came close to winning his first graded stakes race after switching to dirt, when he powered down the stretch to catch, Flat Out, but didn’t have enough legs to do so, as he finished second in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap also at Belmont Park on
2 July, 2011.
McGaughey was pleased with Hymn Book’s emphatic win in the start studded Donn Handicap lineup, but the conditioner said that none of it would have been possible without the change Hymn Book wasn’t gelded.
“It was surprising how deep the race was, but it didn’t surprise me that he ran as well as he did," McGaughey said. "He’s just one of those hard-trying little horses that tries every time. Johnny rides him really well and keeps him in the race,” McGaughey
said.
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