Hymn Book right on song in Donn Handicap

Report: USA, Saturday

Gulfstream Park: Donn Hcap (Grade 1) 1m1f, dirt, 4yo+

WET-TRACK specialist Hymn Book (Shug McGaughey/John Velazquez) touched off Mission Impazible to claim the biggest race of the year so far in the States, the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

On a track rated 'good' after overnight rain, the six-year-old son of Arch rallied from mid-pack to take the $500,000 event by a nose as Dubai World Cup contenders Shackleford and Ruler On Ice failed to enhance their Meydan credentials.

Although 13-2 shot Hymn Book was winning for the seventh time in 14 starts, he had never before won a graded stakes of any kind.

Produced after turning for home, he posted a time of 1m49.16s as he landed the first Grade 1 success of his career.

"When I pulled him out, he came running," said John Velazquez, who rode four winners on Saturday's card. "He put up a good fight down the stretch."

Hymn Book started out as a turf horse before Shug McGaughey switched him to the main track. His New York-based trainer is now eyeing the range of top-level options on his home circuit for the winner, who had to overcome a wide trip and a bumping incident.

Redeemed took third, three and a quarter lengths behind Mission Impazible, while Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Flat Out was never nearer than his finishing position of fifth.

One place behind him was the highly rated Trickmeister, who cut out the pace before faltering as they entered the stretch and surrendering his unbeaten record.

Preakness winner Shackleford, the 3-1 favourite, pressed Trickmeister before also running out of petrol in the closing stages.

"He settled nice and wasn't aggressive, which is what we wanted," said jockey Jesus Castanon. "But when I pulled the trigger, he just didn't give me that run he usually does."

Belmont winner Ruler On Ice was never involved before finishing eighth under Rosie Napravnik.

Also on Saturday

Gulfstream Park: Gulfstream Park Turf Hcap (Grade 1) 1m1f, turf, 4yo+

Now a six-year-old, Get Stormy (Tom Bush/Ramon Dominguez) broke a long losing streak as he cruised to a wire-to-wire victory off easy fractions in the third Grade 1 win of his career.

"He's a special horse and got a special ride today," said Bush. "I was not concerned about the ground at all. He showed from early in his career he handles soft ground."

Boisterous and Smart Bid were scratched out of arace, while Al Khali and Sangaree took up their engagement in the Donn instead.

Gulfstream Park: Hutcheson Stakes (Grade 2) 7f, dirt, 3yo

After leading fancy Ever So Lucky was scratched following rain at Gulfstream, the maiden winner Thunder Moccasin (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) slammed his remaining rivals.

Sent off 1-5, the son of A.P. Warrior stalked the pace before challenging four wide and drew off to score by nearly seven lengths in an impressive display. He stopped the clock in 1m24.16s.