Book'em Danno, Hope Road land Breeders' Cup berths at the Spa

Book'em Danno completed not only a personal sweep of graded stakes at Saratoga this summer in the $500,000 Forego (G1), but also made it a three-bagger for post-time favorites in Saratoga's three Grade 1 sprints on Saturday.

Although the heaviest of the three winning favorites at odds of 9-10, Book'em Danno posted a seven-furlong time of 1:22.43, which was slower than the times turned in by the three-year-old Patch Adams (1:21.61) in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) and the four-year-old filly Hope Road (1:21.93) in the Ballerina (G1).

Book'em Danno ($3.80), who was never more than a length off the lead down the backside, found a seam between rivals in upper stretch and drew off under Paco Lopez. He was followed by the double-digit longshots Scotland, Crazy Mason, and Doc Sullivan, the latter the longest-priced horse in the field of 10.

The order of finish was rounded out by Most Wanted, Bishops Bay, 2024 Forego winner Mullikin, Extra Anejo, Hold My Bourbon, and Over and Ollie.

"Once I'd seen him pretty close turning for home, I knew he'd have his kick," said Derek Ryan, who trains the New Jersey-bred son of Bucchero for Atlantic Six Racing.

Book'em Danno, who has now won 10 of 16 career starts, earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) by virtue of his Forego win, though Ryan has expressed doubts whether the Del Mar surface would suit the four-year-old gelding.

Saratoga, on the other hand, is a track Book'em Danno loves. He won the True North (G3) and Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) over it earlier this summer, and also captured the Woody Stephens (G1) last season. His only setback at the Spa was a third in the Jerkens Memorial last summer.

Hope Road, currently based at the Breeders' Cup host site of Del Mar, punched her ticket to the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) with a two-length win in the $500,000 Ballerina.

Although exiting a sub-par third in the Winning Colors (G3) at Churchill Downs in late May, Hope Road was favored at 2-1 in the seven-furlong Ballerina. Rating in third early, Hope Road improved her position on the far turn and then took over from pacesetting Scylla in upper stretch.

Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Hope Road covered the course in 1:21.93 and paid $6.10. Hope Road races for owner-breeder Cicero Farms and is trained by Bob Baffert, who conditioned Hope Road's dam, Marley's Freedom, to victory in the 2018 Ballerina.

"I'm so happy for the owners. I won that race with her mother, and they really appreciate those big wins like that. It's pretty rare to do that," Baffert said.

"I was hoping she was fit enough to go because training at Del Mar and training there is a little bit different; it's more taxing at Saratoga, but she ran her race."

Syclla held second by four lengths over Majestic Oops. The strung-out field was completed by Brightwork, Halina's Forte, and Claret Beret, while My Mane Squeeze was eased.

The Ballerina was the first win by Hope Road since taking the one-mile Bayakoa (G3) at Del Mar over Breeders' Cup weekend last November. The Bayakoa was her third consecutive victory at the San Diego-area course, over which she is undefeated since joining the Baffert stable after her two-year-old season.

After winning the Torrey Pines (G3) and Bayakoa, Hope Road lost three straight to the top-level sprinter Kopion in the La Brea (G1), Santa Monica (G2), and Derby City Distaff (G1).

Hope Road is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Quality Road.