In a thrilling stretch duel on a sloppy track, Atlantic Six Racing, LLC’s Book’em Danno charged late to capture the $400,000 True North Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Saturday.
Under a perfectly timed ride from jockey Paco Lopez, the New Jersey-bred gelding overcame a challenging track to win the six-and-a-half-furlong sprint for four-year-olds and upward.
The race began with Concrete Glory breaking sharply to the lead, bumping Surveillance at the start. Concrete Glory set the early fractions of 22.21 for the quarter-mile and 44.72 for the half, with Mullikin, under Flavien Prat, pressing the pace from the outside.
As the field rounded the turn, Mullikin advanced to challenge a tiring Concrete Glory, taking the lead near the quarter pole. Meanwhile, Lopez had Book’em Danno in a steady pursuit, swinging four wide as they entered the top of the stretch to launch their bid.
Down the lane, Mullikin dug in and opened a brief advantage, but Book’em Danno, under a determined drive, relentlessly closed the gap. In the final 70 yards, Book’em Danno surged past to seize command, edging away to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The final time for the race was 1:14.64.
“He was three then four wide in pursuit,” the official chart notes read. “[He] dug in under a drive issuing a challenge through the stretch seizing command seventy yards from home, then edged away to the wire kept busy to the end.”
Mullikin was a clear second, well ahead of the rest of the field. Crazy Mason, who started slowly, put in a belated rally along the rail to secure third place.
The victory was a testament to the skill of trainer Derek Ryan and the grit of Book’em Danno, a dark bay or brown gelding by Bucchero. Bred by Gregory J. Kilka & Bright View Farm, the winner earned $220,000 for the victory.
Scratched Horse(s): Full Moon Madness (Stakes Scratch)
Fractional Times: 22.21, 44.72, and 1:08.35
Final Time: 1:14.64
Winning Connections
Winner: Book’em Danno
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Trainer: Derek Ryan
Owner: Atlantic Six Racing, LLC
Breeder: Gregory J. Kilka & Bright View Farm
Bloodline: Dark Bay or Brown Gelding, by Bucchero out of Adorabella, by Ghostzapper. Foaled Apr 27, 2021 in New Jersey.
Stallion Info: Bucchero stands at Ironhorse Stallions, Stillwater, NY for $10,000 Live Foal
Payouts
1st – (5) Book’em Danno – Win: $6.60, Place: $2.90, Show: $2.40
2nd – (6) Mullikin – Place: $3.20, Show: $2.50
3rd – (2) Crazy Mason – Show: $3.60
Exotics: $1.00 Exacta (5-6) Paid: $6.70, $0.50 Trifecta (5-6-2) Paid: $18.75, $0.10 Superfecta (5-6-2-8) Paid: $15.05
Be the first to comment