By Alan Carasso
The hits just keep on coming for the infinitely likeable Book'em Danno (Bucchero), who stamped his authority on Saturday's GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga, where he has now won four times from five trips up the Thruway. His lone blemish came when a gallant third in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes on this very program 12 months ago.
One of the most popular horses in training, Book'em Danno has literally matured before the eyes of the horse racing public. Through a very successful sophomore season, which included a victory in this track's GI Woody Stephens Stakes, the bay gelding was predominantly at his best when allowed to settle midfield or worse and finish up. He also had a strong preference to loop horses, staying out of harm's way.
There has been a metamorphosis of sorts this season, as he has not only developed the ability to race far handier to the pace while saving something to put his races to bed when called upon, he's also been willing to take his chance splitting horses, an ace in the hole that has turned a very good horse into a great one.
Fourth, beaten a neck for all of it by 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes in the slop May 3, he defeated Mullikin (Violence) and Crazy Mason (Coal Front) when catching another rain-affected strip in the GIII True North Stakes on Belmont Day June 7 and repeated the dose in a renewal of the A. G. Vanderbilt Stakes that was a Grade II in name only, besting Mullikin and fellow elite-level scorer Nakatomi (Firing Line) July 19.
Scratched down into gate three, the two-time New Jersey Horse of the Year was ridden forward by Paco Lopez and was prominently placed for the run down the backstretch as Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}) dueled up front with longshot Hold My Bourbon (Anchor Down) through a pace that was a few lengths slower in comparison to the ones set in the GI H. Allen Jerkens and in the GI Ballerina Stakes, both at the same distance earlier on the card.
With defending champ Mullikin to his outside, Book'em Danno was being niggled at by Lopez three furlongs out, not appearing to be traveling all that well. But he was well and truly back into the bridle heading for home, sliced through a gap between the staying-on Most Wanted and the retreating Hold My Bourbon and held off a late bid from Scotland (Good Magic) by a length. Crazy Mason was on the scene late for third.
The victory makes Book'em Danno the richest New Jersey-bred in history, surpassing two-time Eclipse Award and seven-times Grade I winner Open Mind.
Saturday's race was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series qualifier for the GI Dirt Mile, and even though trainer Derek Ryan somewhat reluctantly agrees that he has his hands on a championship-caliber animal, he is–at this stage–non-committal about an appearance at Del Mar in two months' time.
“I'm still sticking to my plan. I'm sure it might change,” Ryan said. “But they're [owners Atlantic Six Racing] pretty good and have never told me where to run. So it's worked out pretty good.”
Added winning rider Paco Lopez: “He is a game horse. The race and the competition today and a little trouble between horses, but no problem today. He showed up big time and came through today.
“I can't believe it. This horse, he shows up. He's done very well, and Derek Ryan has done very good for that horse.”
Pedigree Notes:
Book'em Danno is thus far the most decorated performer for his sire, who covered his first book of mares in New York in 2024 and now anchors the fledgling stallion operation at Ironhorse Stallions in Stillwater, about 20 miles south and east of Saratoga. Bucchero covered 192 mares this season.
Breeder Greg Kilka purchased the unraced Adorabella for $14,000 in foal to Fast Anna at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale, and that foal, Girl Trouble, did her part in improving the page with a pair of juvenile stakes scores in 2022. When factoring in Book'em Danno's emergence in late 2023, the family became even more valuable, as the mare's then-yearling colt by Classic Empire topped the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic October sale on LC Racing's bid of $135,000. That same operation added Adorabella to the fold when paying $550,000 for the mare in foal to Medaglia d'Oro after she was supplemented to the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Adorabella subsequently aborted that foal, but returned to the Darley superstar and produced a colt this past Apr. 1 and she was covered by Forte this season.
The stakes-placed second dam produced synthetic stakes winner Alydiva (Quality Road) and she is a daughter of Esprit d'Escalier, the dam of GSW & MGISP Gastronomical (Sunshine Forever). Alydorable was purchased by Thomas & Mitchell Bloodstock for $5,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale and foaled a filly by Sir Winston last May. She is currently in foal to Bucchero.
Three straight graded stakes wins for BOOK'EM DANNO as he wins the Grade 1 Forego Stakes under @Pacolopez1018 for trainer Derek Ryan! pic.twitter.com/SG8rnpTKjv
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 23, 2025
Saturday, Saratoga
FOREGO S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-23, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.43, ft.
1–BOOK'EM DANNO, 124, g, 4, by Bucchero
1st Dam: Adorabella, by Ghostzapper
2nd Dam: Alydorable, by Arch
3rd Dam: Esprit d'Escalier, by Diesis (GB)
($475,000 RNA 3yo '24 KEECHA). O-Atlantic Six Racing, LLC;
B-Gregory J Kilka & Bright View Farm (NJ); T-Derek S. Ryan;
J-Paco Lopez. $275,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Sau,
16-10-3-1, $1,855,425. *1/2 to Girl Trouble (Fast Anna),
MSW, $288,540. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Scotland, 120, g, 5, Good Magic–Gemswick Park, by
Speightstown. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (KY);
T-William I. Mott. $100,000.
3–Crazy Mason, 122, c, 4, Coal Front–Izshelegal, by Maria's
Mon. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($20,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV;
$27,500 Ylg '22 EASOCT). O-Donna Wright and Reeves
Thoroughbred Racing; B-Gmbracstables LLC, Mr. & Mrs.
Ramon Rangel & Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Madden (KY);
T-Gregory D. Sacco. $60,000.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 1. Odds: 0.90, 11.70, 16.00.
Also Ran: Doc Sullivan, Most Wanted, Bishops Bay, Mullikin, Extra Anejo, Hold My Bourbon, Over and Ollie. Scratched: Full Moon Madness.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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