He may be a Jersey boy from humble beginnings, but you can count on Book'em Danno when the big stage comes calling.
That was the case again Aug. 23 as the 4-year-old Bucchero gelding flashed his brilliance to earn a second career top-level victory in the $500,000 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Both those grade 1 triumphs have come at the Spa, and he completed a unique triple at the track by sweeping three graded sprints this summer: the True North Stakes (G3) in June, Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G2) in July, and Forego in August. The True North is typically held at Belmont Park, which is currently undergoing renovations.
"He's probably the first (New Jersey-bred) that's won all those three races because they usually don't have them here," said trainer Derek Ryan. "I don't think it'll be done again. But he's a pretty good horse."
That pretty good horse has been exceptional this season. Winning four of his five starts, his lone defeat came by just a neck when fourth to Mindframe, Nysos, and Banishing in the May 3 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs. All three have come back to win graded races going longer.
That success this season coincides with the appointment of Paco Lopez to the saddle at the start of the year. Their relationship paid off Saturday as Lopez was able to keep Book'em Danno relaxed behind the leaders, Most Wanted and Hold My Bourbon, as they set fractions of :22.63 and :44.85.
"(Lopez) just gets along with him," Ryan said. "He gets in the position I want him in all the time."
When Lopez found daylight between the pacesetters entering the stretch, he pushed through. Briefly bumping with Hold My Bourbon as he faded, Book'em Danno engaged Most Wanted for a brief battle before establishing command with a furlong to run. Scotland and Crazy Mason launched late rallies, but were too late and finished second and third, respectively.
Completing seven furlongs in 1:22.43, Book'em Danno paid $3.80 to win.
Bred in New Jersey by George Kilka and Bright View Farm, Book'em Danno is the first grade 1 winner this season for sire Bucchero , who stood the 2025 season at Ironhorse Stallions in Stillwater, N.Y., for $10,000. He and 4-year-old filly Queen Maxima have combined for five graded wins for the stallion this season.
Book'em Danno has been the horse of a lifetime for owner Atlantic Six Racing, a group of six friends from the Jersey shore. Book'em Danno is one of just five horses to race solely under their name since the group had its first starter in 2020 and is responsible for 10 of their 14 victories, earning $1,855,425 along the way.
"It's really important for the industry to have an ownership group that has a couple horses—we don't have an unlimited budget—to be involved and win on this stage," said Atlantic Six's Jeff Rubenstein. "We're all so proud of him and he shows up every time."
The victory awarded an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1, thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Ryan was non-committal about traveling to California, with Rubenstein saying they would trust whatever decision the trainer makes.
"Owners are like mushrooms, best to be kept in the dark," Rubenstein said. "I go to one race at a time, so that's all him (Ryan)."
