Book'em Danno Headed To Perryville, Will Skip Breeders' Cup

Leading 3-year-old sprinter Book'em Danno (Bucchero), a latest third in a cracking renewal of the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 24, is likely to make his next start in the seven-furlong GIII Perryville Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 19, according to Jay Briscione of the Atlantic Six Racing partnership. Briscione confirmed that the partners and trainer Derek Ryan have ruled out an appearance at the Breeders' Cup.

The New Jersey-bred has had a pair of works at Monmouth Park since the Jerkens, a best-of-108 half-mile in :46.60 on Sept. 15 followed by an easy five-eighths in 1:02 Sept. 22.

“He is doing very well,” Briscione said of the GI Woody Stephens Stakes hero. “That race was a tough race for him, giving weight to most of the competition. The day after he was tired, but bounced back quickly. Derek has him where he wants him.”

Book'em Danno was tasting defeat for the first time over the seven-furlong distance in the Jerkens, having won the Jan. 13 Pasco Stakes by over a dozen lengths in his other attempt prior to the Stephens. He is three-for-three at six furlongs and in two tries going a one-turn mile, he was second in last year's Nashua Stakes and was just touched off by future GI Kentucky Derby third Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in this year's G3 Saudi Derby.

The Perryville trip hits Book'em Danno right between the eyes, Briscione said.

“We are of the mindset that if it's not broke, don't fix it,” he said. “At three-quarters and seven he's been very tough. His two route races, both one-turn miles, he just missed, so at least as a 3-year-old, we're inclined to stay within his wheelhouse.”

With a trip to Del Mar already ruled out, Briscione said the partners will let Book'em Danno dictate the rest of the season.

“The only two races we would consider after the Breeders' Cup–if we didn't give him time–are the [GII] Cigar Mile and the [GI] Malibu [Stakes].”

Briscione said that Book'em Danno could return to the Middle East this coming winter to contest some of the region's rich events, including the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. But the partners are not completely ruling out a try at the world's richest horse race.

“Derek is pretty confident he could get him to run [the nine furlongs] in the Saudi Cup,” Briscione said. “He proved he could travel, doesn't need to take his racetrack with him and he didn't have any ill effects from the travel, so we'll see what happens.”

For the time being, Briscione and his partners are enjoying the ride with Book'em Danno, who is within $30,000 of breaching the seven-figure threshold in earnings.

“We're happy with the way he's progressing, but more importantly, we are taking it one race at a time,” he said. “He pretty much runs his race every time, but don't we don't want to go to the well too many times. But we're having the time of our lives, we'll never have another one like him.”