SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Book’em Danno continued toward the top of the nation’s sprint division with arguably his best performance yet, a convincing 2 1/2-length victory over Mullikin on Saturday at Saratoga in the Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes.
The finish mirrored the Grade 3 True North, which Book’em Danno won by 1 1/4 lengths over Mullikin here six weeks ago.
Book’em Danno entered the Vanderbilt, which was downgraded from Grade 1 status this year, as third in Daily Racing Form’s latest divisional rankings behind only the West Coast-based duo of Kopion and Nysos. He figures to improve his position after notching his fourth victory in as many starts at six furlongs and third in four outings in 2025. The only blemish on his record this season is a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes, in which he was beaten just a neck by Mindframe.
Book’em Danno bobbled briefly at the break on Saturday, but quickly recovered to stalk the early leaders while saving ground and was confidently handled by Lopez entering the turn. Book’em Danno angled out toward the middle of the track commencing his bid into the stretch, ran down Mullikin approaching the furlong marker and, despite lugging in some through midstretch, readily increased his advantage to the end.
Mullikin, winner of the Grade 1 Forego here last summer, stalked the pacesetting Damon’s Mound from the outset, held a short advantage into the stretch, but proved no match for the winner through the final furlong. It was another 3 3/4 lengths farther back to Nakatomi, last year’s Vanderbilt winner. The tiring Damon’s Mound, Baby Yoda and Nash rounded out the order of finish. Full Moon Madness and Skelly were scratched.
The New Jersey-bred Book’em Danno is trained by Derek Ryan for Atlantic Six Racing LLC and was ridden to victory again by Paco Lopez, who won the Grade 3 Caress aboard The Future Is Now earlier on the card. Book’em Danno completed the distance over a fast track in 1:08.98 (111 Beyer Speed Figure) and paid $4.80.
“I think that was one of his best efforts so far,” Ryan said in the winner’s circle after the race. “He came into the race great. Paco worked him last Sunday. I put a little more speed into him just to be a little closer like he was. I had 100 percent confidence in him coming in. I wasn’t afraid of anybody, but at the same time it’s Saratoga. Anything can happen.”
Ryan praised Lopez, who has been aboard Book’em Danno in all four starts in 2025.
“He rides him so good. He gets him to the outside and that’s key,” Ryan said. “He likes to see the target. It was perfect. And they ran pretty fast. He has him where I want him to be, close enough where he’s not having to overcome 10 lengths and trouble. He just gets along with him so well. And this horse is better than he was last year, that’s obvious, as you can see in his races.”
Ryan said he will continue to take things one race at a time with his sprint star.
“In this game you never plan ahead. If you plan ahead you get in trouble,” Ryan said. “But he likes it here, so the Forego would be the obvious, legitimate spot right now. But you never know. There’s a Jersey-bred stakes coming up, I think it’s on the same day as the Forego. We might throw him in there, too.”
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