Champion Male Sprinter Book’em Danno defends his title in G3 True North

Atlantic Six Racing’s Book’em Danno, the reigning Champion Male Sprinter, successfully defended his title in Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 True North, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older horses on Day Four of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Derek Ryan and piloted by Paco Lopez, the 5-year-old son of Bucchero, who stands in New York at Ironhorse Stallions, improved his Spa record to 6-5-0-1 topped by a trio of wins here last summer in the True North, Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt and Grade 1 Forego. Book’em Danno won the Grade 1 Woody Stephens here in 2024 as part of a sophomore campaign that included a third-place finish in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.

The Forego closed out the 4-year-old campaign for Book’em Danno, who also took honors as the New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year for the third successive year. He returned to action in April at Aqueduct Racetrack with a neck second to the in-form Point Dume in the Grade 2 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets.

Ryan said he was expecting a strong effort from Book’em Danno in a hotly-anticipated showdown with last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint-winner Bentornato.

“He's been training unbelievable. Unbelievable. He got beat the first time because I ran him one work short,” Ryan explained. “It was a mishap, about a month before, a jockey didn't show up, I had a different jockey work him... and it wasn't even worth working, but I wasn't cranking him for it.

“Paco executed the way I wanted, maybe we put this to bed now, I'm tired of hearing of Bentornato,” he added, with a laugh.

Bentornato broke alertly to the lead on Saturday with Book’em Danno ranging up to his outside and Imagination in their midst with the awkward-starting Listenupshance surging up the rail under Antonio Fresu.

The Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Bentornato marked the opening quarter-mile in 21.76 seconds and reached the half-mile in 43.44 while being pestered to his inside by Listenupshance. Meanwhile, Book’em Danno was under a strong hand-ride from Lopez while chasing the duel to their outside.

Book’em Danno, under right-handed encouragement from Lopez, had plenty to do as the embattled leaders straightened for the stretch run with neither giving way as they reached three-quarters in 1:07.95, but the pace took its toll in the final yards as Book’em Danno confidently powered past to score by three-quarter lengths in a final time of 1:14.79.

Lopez said he was pleased with the effort.

“I was scared a little bit because everything [winning] has been on the lead. I was a little nervous, but my horse started to attack the other horses. He ran very good today,” Lopez said.

Ryan said he was confident that Book’em Danno would be able to collar the frantic pacesetters.

"I left it up to Paco. He said I'm going to be close. I said, 'If he's two [lengths] behind him [Bentornato] turning for home, he'll get him.' And that's what happened,” Ryan said. "He [Lopez] knows the horse so well. He knows what I want. I want him on the outside, make your move on the outside, and it worked out perfect." 

Bentornato nosed out the game Listenupshance for place honors with Imagination, Illuminare and Faust rounding out the order of finish. Be You and Pentathlon were scratched.

Trainer Jose D’Angelo said Bentornato, making his first start since a close second in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, was game in defeat.

“He ran big,” D’Angelo said. “He had a long trip from Dubai, and we know that his best distance is six furlongs, and we went today and six and a half. He ran his race. Strong fractions, I’m very proud of him.

“When I saw the fractions, I thought at the end it was going to be a close race, and it was. I’m very proud of him,” he continued. “He came from Dubai, long trip, and he ran big today. I would like to see how he comes back and keep him at six furlongs. The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup again, so that’s the plan for the moment.”

Ortiz, Jr. agreed that the extra half-furlong made the difference in a narrow defeat for Bentornato.

“He broke good and had some pressure on but I was in the middle of the track, so I just let him be there. He ran good,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “Today was six and a half furlongs; I love him going three-quarters, but it is what it is. I just stayed outside and if [someone] wanted to come inside, go ahead, and that’s what I did.”

Fresu said the Doug O’Neill-trained Listenupshance ran to his preparations while making just his second graded stakes outing after a third-place try in the Grade 3 San Carlos in March at Santa Anita Park.

“He had been breezing really well the last couple of times, so we knew he was going to run his race,” Fresu said. “Today he couldn’t really relax in the post parade, and he was bad in the gate. He almost flipped and he kind of missed the break when they opened the gate.

“I was lucky enough to find a spot on the inside. The horse was very comfortable in there,” Fresu continued. “He was always receiving pressure from the favorite, Bentornato, who passed me at the beginning of the lane, but then when my horse switched leads, he kind of came back again. He was flighting, but the first fraction cost me in the finish. Very pleased with the way he ran.” 

Ryan indicated that Book’em Danno will not return for the Alfred G. Vanderbilt but does expect to make a title defense in the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Forego on August 29 here, a "Win and You're In" for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in October at Keeneland.

"[We'll look to] the one at the end of the meet [Forego]. We won't come back for the middle one this year,” Ryan said.

The nine-time stakes winning Book’em Danno is out of the unraced Ghostzapper mare Adorabella, who also produced dual stakes-winner Girl Trouble. He is named after the catchphrase from the television show Hawaii Five-O.

Bred in New Jersey by Gregory J. Kilka and Bright View Farm, Book’em Danno banked $220,000 in victory to surpass $2 million in career earnings while improving his record to 18-11-4-1. He returned $5.72 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga for Closing Day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival featuring the Grade 3, $300,000 Poker in Race 4 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Soaring Softly in Race 8. First post on the 11-race card is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/event-info/tv-schedule. 

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