Hymn put in a strong stretch run after racing just outside pace-setter Tip Top Thomas and won the $500,000 Forego Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga.
Ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr., who arrived in town after winning the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G1) aboard Willy D’s, Hymn clear took advantage of the absence of Book’em Danno.
Along with Banishing, the 2025 Forego winner was scratched due to an incident in his stall Friday.
Hymn was sent off at 9-2, with Tip Top Thomas at 9-5 and Senior Officer the 3-2 favorite. It was Tip Top Thomas, ridden by Flavien Prat, who took control from the start in the field of six going 7 furlongs.
As the leaders came into the stretch, Hymn took the lead and won three-quarters of a length. Senior Officer and T Kraft dead-heated for second, with Crazy Mason just behind.
Hymn, bet down from 12-1 on the morning line after the scratches, ran second to Built in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) at the Spa on July 25. Winning trainer Ron Moquett won the 2018 Forego with Whitmore.
The win earned Hymn a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
“For sure. That was our plan (Breeders’ Cup) since the first time we ran him as a gelding (in April).”
Since he was gelded, the 4-year-old son of McKinzie has won four of five races, with a second in the other. Prior, he was a maiden winner in 10 starts.
“I thought he was a beautiful, wonderful horse from day one. And I hated having to geld him,’’ said Moquett. And when I did, I said, 'Let's just make him a racehorse and go try to win the Breeders' Cup.' So, we're good.”
Moquett said the BC Sprint (G1) is also a possibility.
-- Fully Subscribed ($3.86) won the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) by 9 ¾ lengths and earned a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and hopefully a showdown with top filly Nitrogen.
-- Englishman ($2.82) proved his status as the top 3-year-old sprinter with a 3 ¾-length victory over Deep Flame in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1).
-- Naomis ($4.54) edged Ultimate Love with a last-to-first run and won the $400,000 Lake Placid Stakes (G2) by a half-length.
Ways and Means, the 6-5 favorite, put away the opposition with an impressive stretch run and won the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1), earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, the 5-year-old mare won for the third time in her last four races. Ways and Means has won six of seven starts at the Spa in her 13-race career.
Jenny Kellner is an award-winning journalist and teacher who has covered thoroughbred racing for years. As a reporter for both United Press International and The Associated Press, her work has appeared in publications and on websites around the world. Jenny has also written for The New York Times, the New York Post, Newsday and Sports Illustrated.
