Book’em Danno stars in Vanderbilt; Future is Now rebounds in Caress

Along with the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) for three-year-old fillies, Saturday’s 12-race program at Saratoga featured a pair of graded sprint stakes.

Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2)

Atlantic Six Racing’s Book’em Danno continued to enhance his credentials in the sprint division, driving past Mullikin to record a commanding victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2). Favored at 7-5, Derek Ryan trains the classy New Jersey-bred gelding, and Paco Lopez was in to ride the seven-time stakes winner. 

“I think that was one of his best efforts so far,” Ryan said. “He came into the race great. Paco worked him out last Sunday. I put a little bit more speed into him, just to be a little closer, like he was. I had 100% confidence coming in. I wasn't afraid of anybody, but at the same time, it is Saratoga and anything can happen.”

A 1 1/4-length winner over Mullikin in a deep True North (G3) at Saratoga last month, Book’em Danno drove to a 2 1/2-length win over Mullikin in a strong edition of the Vanderbilt. It was nearly four more lengths to Nakatomi, who finished third in a title defense, and the top three finishers are Grade 1 winners. Grade 2 winners Damon’s Mound and Baby Yoda came next under the wire, and stakes victor Nash trailed.

Book’em Danno, who stopped the teletimer in 1:08.98 and has now bankrolled more than $1.58 million from a 15-9-3-1 record, confirmed himself as a leading contender for the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar this fall.

"He's 4-for-4 now going six (furlongs),” Ryan said. “(Paco) rides him so good, he gets him to the outside, and that is key. That's the way he likes to be ridden. He likes to see the target on his inside. When he's inside, he's always getting late on him, but that was perfect, and they ran pretty fast.”

“Well, he won very good, the last time he won at Saratoga, I was pretty sure that horse loves Saratoga,” added Lopez, who picked up the mount this year. “He really, really likes that track, and this is a very nice horse. Derek Ryan has done a very good job for that horse. He ran very well today from behind the horses. I had a little tight room at the three and a half, took him out, when I took him out, he ran good and he just rolled that horse (Mullikin) inside the eighth pole.”

By Bucchero, Book’em Danno was named back-to-back New Jersey Horse of the Year for 2023-24. The four-year-old registered his first two stakes wins as a juvenile and counted the Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga among his three stakes wins in 2024. He also finished a head second to Forever Young in the Saudi Derby (G3) and third in the Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1). He was bred by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm.

Ryan said the Aug. 23 Forego (G1) at Saratoga, a “Win & You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, will be the next likely target.

"That is the obvious, legitimate spot,” Ryan said. “So, right now I'd say the Forego because really there is nothing else, but you never know, there is a Jersey-bred stakes we might throw him in there, too (laughs). I think it is on the same day, too. Actually, you never know." 

Caress (G3)

After having her three-race stakes-winning streak snapped with a close second in the Intercontinental (G2), the Estate of R. Larry Johnson’s Future Is Now gamely returned to the winner’s circle in the $175,000 Caress (G3) for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Regular rider Paco Lopez was up on the five-year-old mare for Michael Trombetta, and Future Is Now chased the pace from the break and surged to a short lead in deep stretch, holding the fast-closing Zeitlos safe for a half-length decision.

The Maryland-bred daughter of Great Notion left the starting gate as the 2.20-1 favorite among nine rivals and stopped the teletimer in 1:01.08 over the firm ground. Zeitlos wound up a neck better than Time to Dazzle, who edged pacesetter Twirling Queen by a nose for third. It was another nose to fifth-placer Kairyu, who finished in a deadheat with Pandora’s Gift, followed by Toupie, Pipsy, and Obstreperous, concluded the order.

Future Is Now earned her first stakes win in The Very One at Pimlico in May 2024 and followed with an upset in the Intercontinental during the Belmont at Saratoga meet. After a close third in the Caress, she came back to win the Smart N Fancy later in the Saratoga meet and concluded her four-year-old season with a victory in the Franklin (G2) at Keeneland.

The bay mare opened this year with a gutsy win in April’s Giant’s Causeway (G3) at Keeneland. She bounced back gallantly from a half-length second in the Intercontinental on June 5, and Future Is Now has now earned $884,660 from a 17-9-2-1 career line.

“A perfect trip today,” said Lopez, who is the leading rider at Monmouth Park and made the most of his trip to Saratoga by sweeping a pair of graded stakes. “Last time, I had a very bad trip, and I was inside, no choice but to be inside, and today, perfect trip with the same fillies. Better position, I break, and nobody wants to go. I let her go. Why wait?”

Bred by Larry Johnson, Future Is Now is the first graded and second overall stakes winner from the Bernardini mare Past as Prelude, a half-sister to Grade 3-winning sprinter Street Magician.