Hymn Book noses out Donn win

Stuart Janney III's homebred Hymn Book stamped himself as a horse to watch in the handicap ranks this season with a minor upset of Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap. Sent away at 6-1 in a solid field of 11, which included classic winners Shackleford and Ruler on Ice, Hymn Book came with a five-wide bid around the final turn, survived a strong bump from Where's Sterling at the furlong pole, and caught a weakening Mission Impazible in the final strides to win by a nose under John Velazquez. Hymn Book paid $15, $7.80 and $5.60.

As expected, the pace of the Donn was set by Trickmeister, with 3-1 favorite Shackleford a length or less behind through splits of :23 2/5, :47 and 1:11. Meanwhile, Hymn Book rated in mid-pack alongside Where's Sterling. Just ahead of those two was Mission Impazible, who ultimately took first crack at the leaders approaching the quarter pole.

Tiring after his early exertions, Trickmeister drifted off the rail turning for home, allowing Javier Castellano to shoot Mission Impazible through an opening. The 8-1 chance opened up on the field by a length with an eighth to go, but began to drift out badly in the final yards. Hymn Book continued his strong rally and had more left in the tank than his tiring rival. Hymn Book's nose hit the wire first in a time of 1:49 for nine furlongs over a good track.

Mission Impazible had 3 1/4 lengths on 8-1 shot Redeemed, who finished a neck in front of Where's Sterling for third. The order of finish was completed by Flat Out, Trickmeister, Shackleford, Ruler on Ice, Sangaree, Al Khali and Soaring Empire.

A lightly-raced six-year-old gelding by Arch, Hymn Book has won or placed in all but two of his 14 career outings. Unplaced in his debut in the summer of 2009, he dipped into the claiming ranks to garner his first career win, and then captured a starter allowance before rising back to allowance company. He remained at that level until last May, when he captured the Three Coins Up, a nine-furlong overnight stakes at Belmont Park.

A distant second to Flat Out in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap in his next start, Hymn Book was a flat sixth in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap over Saratoga's Mellon turf course, but rebounded to take the Firethorn, another overnight stakes at Belmont. He concluded 2011 with a second to the three-year-old To Honor and Serve in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct. His career mark now stands at 14-7-4-1, $601,187.

Produced by the multiple stakes-winning Vespers, a daughter of Known Fact, Hymn Book hails from the extended family of Grade 2 winners Roshani and Kumari Continent, as well as Grade 3 victors Passion and Strike the Bell.

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