Book'em Danno mows down Bentornato in True North
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Book'em Danno after winning the True North (G3) at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
The $400,000 True North (G3) at Saratoga on Saturday turned into as contested a race between Book'em Danno and Bentornato as last year's Eclipse Award balloting for champion male sprinter. And again, Book'em Danno prevailed.
Benefiting in the final stages from a wicked pace of :21.76 and :43.44 set by Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato, Book'em Danno mowed down that rival and longshot Listenupshance in the final sixteenth to win the True North by three parts of a length under Paco Lopez.
Bentornato nosed out the 21-1 Listenupshance for second. Imagination, Illuminaire, and Faust completed the order of finish.
Owned by Atlantic Six Racing and trained by Derek Ryan, Book'em Danno covered 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:14.79. He paid $5.72 as the second choice to Bentornato.
This was a repeat win in the True North for Book'em Danno, who followed up his victory last year with success in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) and Forego (G1). Because the Breeders' Cup Sprint was held over a traditionally speed-favoring Del Mar strip, connections held Book'em Danno out of the Sprint, which Bentornato won by more than two lengths. Book'em Danno, nonetheless, won the Eclipse Award championship, garnering 115 votes to Bentornato's 82.
Book'em Danno kicked off his 2026 on April 4, finishing a neck second in the seven-furlong Carter (G2) at Aqueduct.
"He's been training unbelievable. Unbelievable. He got beat the first time because I ran him one work short," Ryan said.
Ryan said Book'em Danno would skip the Alfred G. Vanderbilt this year and target the Forego on Aug. 29.
Trainer Jose D'Angelo said Bentornato would likely focus on six-furlong races in advance of his title defense in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar is run over six furlongs.
Book'em Danno is a five-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding by Bucchero. He's now won 11 of 18 overall, five of those wins coming at Saratoga.
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