Shoot for Shug Grade 1 Double Saturday

Who: Thoroughbreds – Hymn Book, Boisterous
What: Horse Racing Betting Tips – The Donn Handicap, The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap
Where: Gulfstream Park
When: Saturday, February 11th

For those of you interested in making a score this Saturday, check out the Shug McGaughey duo of #10-Hymn Book (8-1) in The Donn Handicap (Race 10) and #5-Boisterous (3-1) in The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (Race 11). A $2.00 10-5 Double should return close to $100.00. Here’s why:

With high-profile horses like Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice, Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Flat Out, undefeated Trickmeister, and Preakness winner Shackleford in the field, Hymn Book will be overlooked. Others like Stephen Foster and Clark Handicap runner-up Mission Impazible, the up-and-coming Redeemed, and the hard-hitting Sangaree will garner their share of support as well.

Hymn Book ran a bang-up second last out in the Cigar Mile, leaving the top-notch Calibrachoa in his wake. Earlier in the year, he finished second behind Belmont Park horse-for-course Flat Out in the Suburban Handicap. His last four Beyer Speed Figures on dirt are 101, 96, 102 and 104…as consistent as any member of this field. Two of those races were minor stakes wins on off tracks…so Shug could be doing a rain dance. There’s plenty of speed in this edition of The Donn, which should flatter Hymn Book’s closing kick. It doesn’t hurt to see occasional pilot John Velazquez taking the mount either. Hymn Book hasn’t missed a beat in his training at Payson Park, and should be ready to roll off a brief freshening. I’ll bet on Hymn Book to win and place at odds of 8-1 or better, and I’ll bet a straight 10-5 double…#10-Hymn Book in Race 10 with #5-Boisterous in Race 11.

It’s the McGaughey/Velazquez tandem again in The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (Race 11), with Phipps homebred #5-Boisterous (3-1) the luke-warm morning-line favorite. Boisterous has won six of his last nine turf starts, including the Grade 2 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct last out. It’s also worth noting that although he’s still seeking his first Grade 1 score, he finished a very respectable 3rd behind Cape Blanco and Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Man o’ War last July, and there’s nothing in this field resembling those two turf monsters. Boisterous has excelled over less-than-firm going, and with rain throughout the week in South Florida, he should get the type of footing he enjoys. If Hymn Book wins The Donn, I’ll let my Double ride. If he loses, however, I’ll bet on Boisterous to win at odds of 2-1 or better.