Last year, Book'em Danno edged Bentornato in Eclipse Award voting as champion male sprinter, though they never met over the season. Instead, Book'em Danno's three graded stakes victories at Saratoga Race Course, plus another win at Colonial Downs, proved enough for him to outpoll Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato, whose two starts, both victories, came late in the year.
To the delight of racing fans, they've begun to settle their battles on the racetrack this year—with round 1 coming June 6 in the True North Stakes (G3) at Saratoga. And the two elite sprinters traded punches, with Book'em Danno rallying past Bentornato late by three-quarters of a length in the $400,000 race.
Circumstances seemed to play to Book'em Danno's favor, with Saturday's race coming at Saratoga, where he has been his most brilliant, and over a 6 1/2-furlong distance, a sixteenth of a mile beyond Bentornato's best trip.
Those factors were evident late, as Book'em Danno was able to wear down comebacking Bentornato after that one was occupied with Listenupshance for much of the race through demanding fractions of :21.76 and :43.44. Though Bentornato was finally able to inch past Listenupshance to his inside, he didn't have enough to withstand the winner.
Jockey Paco Lopez, urging Book'em Danno to catch up in early stretch, was able to ease up in the saddle late. The winner was timed in 1:14.79 for the distance, not far off his 2025 True North-winning time of 1:14.64.
He paid $5.72 to win as the second favorite behind Bentornato.
"Maybe we'll put this to bed now. Tired of hearing about Bentornato," said Book'em Danno's New Jersey-based trainer Derek Ryan.
Lopez won the True North for the third time, with his initial win in the race coming aboard the Peter Miller-trained Roy H in 2017.
Bentornato, racing for the first time since finishing a slow-start second in the March 28 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan Racecourse, pleased jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Jose D'Angelo with his runner-up. He nosed out longshot show finisher Listenupshance.
"He ran a huge race, strong fractions. So very proud of him," D'Angelo said.
Book'em Danno, a 5-year-old gelding by Bucchero out of the Ghostzapper mare Adorabella, received a warm ovation from his ownership partners in Atlantic Six Racing, as well as from the fans at Saratoga, who appreciate his 5-0-1 record in six local starts. Bred in New Jersey by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm, he has seemingly been adopted as one of New York's own.
"He's the stepchild," Atlantic Six managing partner Jay Briscione said.
Last year, Book'em Danno completed an unprecedented sweep of Saratoga's three major sprint races: The True North, Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G2), and Forego Stakes (G1). But Ryan suggested a more selective campaign could be in order this year with the hope that Book'em Danno can compete in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in the fall at Keeneland.
He was given time off by Ryan after winning the Forego last year and didn't return until a second-place finish in the April 4 Carter Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"We're going to try and make Keeneland. We want a fresh horse," Ryan said, indicating Book'em Danno would likely skip the Vanderbilt in midsummer.
Bucchero, last year's top stallion in New York and second this year by progeny earnings, stands for $12,500 at Ironhorse Stallions in the Empire State. Ironhorse Stallions managing partner Harlan Malter was on hand for the True North victory.
Book'em Danno, 11-4-1 in 18 starts with a bankroll of $2,135,425, is Bucchero's top earner.
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