Horse Racing “Backtrack”: Hymn Book noses out Mission Impazible in wild Donn Handicap

Hymn Book held off a re-surging Mission Impazible by a nose to win the 2012 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park this past Saturday in our Horse Racing highlight race of the weekend.

At the start, Trickmeister took command early and set the pace under Ramon Dominguez with Preakness winner Shackleford laying right off him in second. The opening fractions were :23.2, :47, and 1:11. Eventual winner Hymn Book was fifth in the field of 11 in the early going.

As they turned for home, Mission Impazible got first run and shot thru an opening to take the lead. But Hymn Book was coming on the outside; at that point Mission Impazible began to drift out allowing Hymn Book to pass him nearing the sixteenth pole. But Mission Impazible was not done yet, in an act nothing short of courageous, he re-rallyed in the final 100 yards but came up just short on the wire.

“It worked out perfect,” winning jockey John 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.”

“Right after he ran so well in the Cigar Mile I started thinking about this race for him, although I didn’t know it would come up this strong,” Shug McGaughey said who trains the winner. ”This was a good field. We were concerned about the post position (10 of 11) and he kind of got caught out there on the first turn, but then got a good position down the backstretch”.

“Johnny has always had a lot of confidence in him going back to when he was second to Flat Out in the Suburban. He trained great for this race since he got down here and looked good blowing out”.

“We’re New York people and naturally will want a fresh horse for the big races up there later this year, but the Oaklawn Handicap (April 14) is one option we might consider before that.”

The official order of finish was Hymn Book, who paid $15 to win and ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49, followed by Mission Impazible and it was 3 1/4 lengths back to Redeemed with Where’s Sterling fourth. Flat Out finished fifth, followed by Trickmeister, Shackleford, Ruler On Ice, Sangaree, Al Khali, and Soaring Empire.

I’m sorry, I’m having trouble with posting the replay so here is the link:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxI-BckwpgQ

 

Little Bets N’ Pieces:

 

*** Horse of the Year Havre de Grace recorded her first (published) work of the year last Friday when she breezed three furlongs in :37 4/5 and galloped out a fourth furlong in “:52 and change” at Fair Grounds for trainer Larry Jones.

Havre de Grace is being pointed for either the $100,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds or the $150,000 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park for her season debut, according to owner Rick Porter. Both races are on March 17.

“Larry says she’s doing better than last year so far; he’s tickled pink,” Porter said. ”I think there’s a good chance she’ll be running on March 17 and then we’ll see from there.”

 

*** 2011 Two Year Old Champion Hansen is scheduled to make his next start in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct March 3. 

“We felt that the Gotham was a good spot and the timing was excellent,” Dr. Harvey Diamond racing manager of Skychai Racing Stables said. “We would love to take a shot at the Big Apple.”

After the Gotham, Diamond said there are a number of possible options, including the $1,000,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 7 and the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes at TurfwayPark March 24.
 

*** Trainer Todd Pletcher recorded his 3000th victory this past Saturday at GulfstreamPark when he saddled Spring Hill Farm to victory in the third race.

Pletcher became the 26th trainer in Thoroughbred history to reach 3,000 wins.

“It gives you a little time to reflect,” Pletcher said. ”There are not many opportunities to reflect in this business, but milestones like this give you a chance to appreciate all of them, It’s been a great run. We’ve been very fortunate–a lot of great owners, a lot of great horses, tremendous help, a tremendous staff, It’s been a lot of fun.”

 

*** Top Three year Old Union Rags has a new rider and worked five furlongs in 1:03 this past weekend. He galloped out a sixth furlong in 1:15 3/5 and pulled up seven furlongs in 1:29 flat at PalmMeadows Training Center.

 Javier Castellano is the regular rider of Union Rags and Algorthims, but he committed to Algorithms for the Fouth of Youth Stakes on February 26.

Jockey Julien Leparoux picked up the mount on Union Rags.

Brian Walls, clocker at Palm Meadows, said it was “the best Union Rags has looked all winter”.

Trainer Michael Matz, of Barbaro fame, said of his colt: “He’s always had a great disposition and that still hasn’t changed (over the winter). He’s probably grown a little bit; I would say if he’s not 17 hands he’s pretty darn close to it,” Matz added. “He’s just filled out a little bit more and really just grown up as a horse from two to three. He had a nice little rest after the Breeders’Cup, and he’s certainly matured quite a bit physically and mentally. He’s been working well, and he’s going to have two more works and then he’s going to go in the Fountain of Youth.”

 

*** Speaking of Algorthims, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out the talented son of Bernandini for a half mile work this past weekend too.

Algorithms, on cruise control, went a half in :49 1/5  and galloping out five furlongs in 1:02 1/5.

Pletcher also sent out the undefeated Discreet Dancer (who was forced to miss his last work due to a fever) and breezed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 4/5.

 

*** Out west, Kentucky Derby hopeful Creative Cause drilled six furlongs  1:11 3/5 at Hollywood Park on Sunday.

“He worked very nice,” trainer Mike Harrington said. “He seems to be coming up to the race fine.” Creative Cause is being pointed to the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on February 19

*** 2010 Autsralian Horse of the Year Black Caviar extended her unbeaten record to 18 for 18 when she won the group/grade I Sportingbet Orr Stakes at Caulfield in Australia this past Friday.

Trainer Peter Moody said it’s possible the 5-year-old mare could race again as soon as this weekend in the Lightning Stakes at 1,000 meters, and again the following week in the 1,400-meter Futurity Stakes.

“On the ease of that win, I’m probably going to have to do more work with her next Saturday morning to have her ready for the Futurity than she did here this afternoon,” Moody told Australian news services. “If she comes through this great, there is a chance you will see her again in seven days.”