The complexion of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint changed significantly last weekend with trainer Derek Ryan’s announcement that division leader Book’em Danno would bypass the race and instead head to the farm to await his 2026 campaign. That news was followed over the next 24 hours with victories by Patriot Spirit in the Grade 3 Vosburgh at Aqueduct and Imagination in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, both Win and You’re In races for the $2 million BC Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Book’em Danno moved to the head of the class in the division by virtue of his three graded stakes wins over an 11-week span this spring and summer at Saratoga. That culminated with a victory in the Grade 1 Forego, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race for the Dirt Mile, on Aug. 23. Despite that success, Ryan insisted he had little interest in sending his star to the Breeders’ Cup at any distance, citing several reasons – including what he felt was a speed-favoring racetrack at Del Mar.
Ryan made his decision to bypass the Sprint official on Saturday. He also called the six-month suspension of jockey Paco Lopez by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority “ridiculous,” citing it as another major reason to put Book’em Danno away for the season. Lopez was the New Jersey-bred son of Bucchero’s regular rider throughout his 2025 campaign.
With Book’em Danno out of the picture, there does not appear to be a clear-cut favorite for the Sprint at this point, though the list of leading contenders has to begin with Straight No Chaser and Bentornato, who finished first and second, respectively, in last year’s renewal of the event at Del Mar. Both horses have been lightly raced this season, with Straight No Chaser starting just three times this year and Bentornato but once.
Straight No Chaser joins Grade 1 Bing Crosby winner Lovesick Blues, Imagination, and Patriot Spirit as Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series winners. Straight No Chaser qualified for an automatic berth by virtue of his 3 3/4-length victory in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in his 2025 debut on Feb. 22.
There is still one final Win and You’re In event to be decided for the BC Sprint, Friday’s Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland. The race drew only six starters, including Nakatomi, who finished sixth and third in the last two renewals of the BC Sprint.
Nysos, steadily improving 3-year-old Patch Adams, and Dr. Venkman, runner-up in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, are potential BC Sprint starters who also are likely to be pre-entered the Dirt Mile. Also pointing toward the Sprint are the speedy Mad House, upset winner of the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing; and Banishing, who will turn back to six furlongs despite capturing the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic and finishing third in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic going 1 1/8 miles in his last two starts.
“Although he’s obviously run very well going a mile and one-eighth, he just doesn’t seem comfortable doing it. And I think one turn is really what he wants to do. I feel he really thrives at it,” said David Jacobson, who trains and also is part owner of Banishing. “And I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to let him do what he likes to do best, especially for that kind of money in a race that figures to have plenty of pace.”
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