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| Staff Writer |
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Book’em Danno started his 3YO season with a promising performance that showcased his growth into a bigger and stronger version of his already impressive 2YO self. Despite not improving on his Beyer Speed Figures, Book’em Danno dominated the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs over the weekend, winning by a margin of more than 12 lengths while racing wide and being ridden conservatively.
Book’em Danno, trained by Derek Ryan for Atlantic Six Racing, is a promising gelding from the second crop of the successful turf sprinter Bucchero. In his latest race, the Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs, he clocked a time of 1:23.26, with an 86 Beyer rating. Notably, Book’em Danno had previously earned the same figure in the Nashua Stakes, where he finished a strong second.
He has won three races so far, including his maiden race at Monmouth Park, the Smoke Glacken Stakes, and the Futurity at Belmont Park. Experts predict that his Pasco performance could be rated even higher when accounting for ground loss, given that he raced at least five paths off the rail throughout the turn. Despite his impressive resume, it's worth noting that Atlantic Six Racing is a group of six friends from northern New Jersey who have never owned a horse of this caliber before.
“All we wanted was an easy race for him. He’s a very kind horse. He’ll do whatever you want,” Ryan said.
It seems that Book’em Danno may be heading towards the US$1.5 million Saudi Derby, which is a one-turn mile race scheduled on 24th February. To get a better understanding of the lengthy journey, Ryan is flying to Saudi Arabia this week.
“He’s a gelding, and I don’t have any Derby dreams,” said Ryan, who saddled Musket Man to a third in the 2009 Derby.