It was a stakes double for MCKINZIE on Saturday when Hymn won the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel and Day to Day did the same in the Broookmeade S. at Colonial.
Third time was the charm for the Ron Moquett-trained Hymn, who was making his first start outside of Kentucky and Arkansas for this race.
Sent off as the race favorite when running six furlongs, he was happy to shadow Faust and Celtic Contender though the early stages. It wasn’t until the stretch that Hymn made a challenge, but when it came he was ready to run.
Engaging Celtic Contender in a brief battle, he quickly put that one way and was all alone. Hymn was a clear winner and Rafael Bejarano didn’t have much work to do as they powered away to a 5 ½ length victory.
Hymn’s victory inched him closer to half a million in earnings with the 4-year-old gelding at $408,639 with six top two finishes in four starts. This was also his third straight victory with Hymn raced by breeder Fleur de Lis Stables in partnership with William Sparks and Bret Jones also winning races at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs this year.
A multiple stakes placed runner, Day to Day was making her first start at Colonial Downs in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.
Another heavy favorite for her sire, she settled a few lengths off the leader while racing about three paths wide down the backstretch. Over eight lengths from the runaway leader at one point, she moved closer on the turn to prepare for a stretch run.
Racing alongside the long-time leader at the top of the stretch, she easily put that one away. By the time they entered the final furlong, she was drawing away with Paco Lopez letting her coast home as she pleased to win by 2 ¼ lengths.
This was the fifth top three finish in nine starts for the 3-year-old trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for C2 Racing Stable, BAG Racing Stable, Barry Fowler, Charles Deters, and Mark Taylor. Bred by R. Larry Johnson, the filly has placed in two blacktype races as well for $191,485 in earnings.
Hymn is one of two winners from two named foals out of the stakes placed Salt Bae. That mare is out of a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Agnes World and Japanese champion Hishi Akebono among three stakes performers out of Grade 3-placed third dam Mysteries. Mysteries has proven to be an influential broodmare with those descending from her including Group 1 winners Dubai Destination, Royal Marine, Librettist, and Tourist.
Day to Day’s dam Clockstrucktwelve has produced six winners from six to race with three placing in stakes. The mare was one of seven winners out of her own dam with that mare’s best foal being the dual stakes winner Never Enough Time. This is also the immediate family of dual Grade 1 winner Mindframe with 10 stakes performers under Day to Day’s first three dams.
MCKINZIE rounded out the day by seeing son Baeza finish second by only 1 ¼ lengths in the Stephen Foster S. (G1).