By Alan Carasso
The in-form Point Dume (Into Mischief) shipped in from his base at Penn National and lowered the colors of the returning Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in Saturday's GII Carter Stakes at Aqueduct.
The 7-1 second-longest shot on the board was ridden along from the inside stall and made the running in advance of rank outsider Acoustic Ave (Maclean's Music) through a very steady opening quarter in :23.01 as Book'em Danno, the 4-5 chalk and wearing front wraps for the first time in his career, settled just in behind whatever speed there was.
Those two continued to match motors after a half in :45.70, but Book'em Danno–shuffled back to second-last on the turn–began to creep into it, lacking a bit of running room as they came into the stretch. The daylight came three wide and 'Danno' had the front-runner in his sights, but the combination of the winner's recency and perhaps a touch of ring-rustiness saw Point Dume prevail by a narrow margin.
Claimed from Jamie Ness and DEA Thoroughbred Racing for $40,000 out of a runner-up effort going long at his home base last July, Point Dume had proceeded to win four of his next seven dirt tries, including a Jan. 17 overnight handicap at Laurel ahead of a front-running score in the Feb. 14 General George Stakes at the Maryland oval. Point Dume opted for the Carter over Laurel's Frank Whiteley Stakes, won by Quint's Brew (Mosler), who was also entered for, but was scratched from the Carter.
“He's been doing so good, we couldn't just go for one hundred [thousand] at Laurel,” said trainer Timothy Kreiser, winning his first graded stakes. “We said it is time to go for a little money and see what happens. Me and Eddie [Edwin Gonzalez] have won a lot of races together up at Penn National and stuff.
“He is my kind of rider. We like speed. Go to the front, if they catch us, they catch us, if you have the best horse, they can't catch them, right?”
Of the beaten favorite, trainer Derek Ryan said: “Seven [furlongs] off the layoff, I was a little afraid of the distance. I would've rather went six, but this will set him up for the rest of the year. Overall, happy result.”
Ryan indicated that Book'em Danno will target the GIII True North Stakes at Saratoga in June and the GI Forego Stakes after that.
“That's a tough schedule, a year older, so overall, can't complain,” he said.
Pedigree Notes:
Point Dume becomes the 98th winner at the graded level for Spendthrift's Into Mischief and is one of two to salute from three to race from his dam, runner-up in the GI Spinaway Stakes and third in the GI Frizette Stakes in 2017 before selling to Sea Horse Breeders for $575,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale.
A daughter of 2004 GI Acorn Stakes heroine Island Sand, Maya Malibu is kin to six other winners, including Callingmissbrown (Pulpit), whose son Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) completed the GII Wood Memorial/GI Belmont Stakes double in 2022. Point Dume's third dam was a half-sister to Queen's Plate victor Niigon (Unbridled).
Maya Malibu is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly G T Eleven (Life Is Good) and foaled a filly by that WinStar-based stallion on Feb. 11.
Saturday, Aqueduct
CARTER S. PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS-GII, $291,000, Aqueduct, 4-4, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.53, ft.
1–POINT DUME, 122, g, 5, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Maya Malibu (MGISP, $177,500), by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Island Sand, by Tabasco Cat
3rd Dam: Sue's Last Dance, by Forty Niner
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($450,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Bush Racing Stable; B-Sea Horse Breeders, LLC. (KY); T-Timothy C. Kreiser; J-Edwin Gonzalez. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 31-11-7-3, $716,900. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Book'em Danno, 124, g, 5, Bucchero–Adorabella, by Ghostzapper. ($475,000 RNA 3yo '24 KEECHA). O-Atlantic
Six Racing, LLC; B-Gregory J Kilka & Bright View Farm (NJ); T-Derek S. Ryan. $60,000.
3–Be You, 122, g, 5, Curlin–Jacaranda, by Congrats. ($320,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: NK, 1HF, 1. Odds: 7.43, 0.86, 6.94.
Also Ran: Rated by Merit, Acoustic Ave. Scratched: Quint's Brew.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#1 POINT DUME ($16.86) goes gate-to-wire holding off Book'em Danno late to win the $300,000 Carter Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. The son of Into MIschief (@spendthriftfarm) was ridden by Edwin Gonzalez and is trained by Timothy Kreiser. @BushRacing owns. pic.twitter.com/YJkLsGCrgc
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 4, 2026
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
