Grade 1 Donn Handicap winner Hymn Book continued his preparations for the
July 7 Grade 2 Suburban Handicap by breezing four furlongs in :48 over Belmont’s
fast main track on Sunday.
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey says he’s taking it one race at a time
with Hymn Book, who was fourth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April and
third in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special in May following the Donn.
“I’m not a guy who says, ‘I’m pointing to win a championship’ or ‘I’m
pointing for the Breeders’ Cup’ in June,” McGaughey said. “These guys who are
smarter than me start pointing for the Breeders’ Cup in February.
“Hopefully he can be competitive in a race that will put him in (championship
contention). If he’s competitive in the Suburban, we’ll run in the Whitney
(Grade 1 on August 4) or Woodward (Grade 1 on September 1) or something like
that.
“If he needs to go down a notch, we’ll do that, but hopefully he’ll be
competitive in those type of races. I’m not thinking year-end titles right now.”
McGaughey is aiming for his fifth Suburban victory, having won it in 1985
with Vanlandingham and three straight years 1988-90 with Personal Flag, Dancing
Spree, and Easy Goer.
McGaughey added that multiple Grade 2 winner Hungry Island, third in the
Grade 1 Just a Game on June 9, is aiming for the Grade 1 Diana on July 28 at
Saratoga. Hungry Island, owned by Emory Hamilton, posted a :48 2/5 four-furlong
breeze on Sunday.
Hit It Rich, who breezed four furlongs on the good inner turf in :51 on
Sunday, will compete in Saturday’s Grade 2 New York, McGaughey confirmed. She
seeks her second graded victory, having taken the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap
last November at Aqueduct Racetrack. Hit It Rich comes off a runner-up effort in
the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay. Like Hymn Book, Hit It Rich is owned by Stuart
Janney III.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com