Facing just two rivals March 14 in a field decimiated by eight scratches in the $100,000 Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs, grade 1 winner Book'em Danno emerged triumphant in his 2025 comeback, scoring in near-track record time.
The race was intended as a prep for the April 5 Godolphin Mile (G2) in Dubai, trainer Derek Ryan previously told Daily Racing Form.
Tested through the turn in Friday's seven-furlong race, Book'em Danno proved superior when urged in the stretch by jockey Paco Lopez. He powered ahead under right-handed urging to cross the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Repo Rocks. The latter caught pacesetting Celtic Contender late for the place. Book'em Danno carried 125 pounds, spotting weight to both of his rivals. He paid $2.60 to win in the Boston Handicap, a race that did not offer black type.
Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno, a son of Bucchero , raced seven furlongs in 1:20.03 following fractions of :22.65 and :45.14 set by Celtic Contender. His final time was just off the 1:19.86 track record of eventual graded stakes winner Mufasa set last summer in an allowance optional claimer at Colonial.
Friday's race for Book'em Danno marked his first start since he ran fifth in the Dec. 7 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Last year as a 3-year-old, he won three stakes, topped by the June 8 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Preceding the Woody Stephens Stakes, he traveled in early 2024 to the Middle East, finishing second in the Saudi Derby (G3) to Forever Young. Book'em Danno led the Japanese star, recent winner of the Saudi Cup (G1), for much of the one-mile Saudi Derby before being caught by a head at the finish.
Bred in New Jersey by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm out of the Ghostzapper mare Adorabella, Book'em Danno is one of three foals from his dam and a half brother to dual Parx Racing stakes winner Girl Trouble (Fast Anna).
Book'em Danno notched his seventh victory in 12 starts and improved his earnings to $1,098,125. He is the leading money earner for his sire, who stands for $10,000 at Ironhorse Stallions in Stillwater, N.Y.
Colonial's Friday program, the second day of its new three-day all-dirt spring meet, included 16 scratches from eight races after 14 scratches from the same number of races March 13. Most of the scratches were designated on Equibase as trainer, veterinarian, and stewards' scratches. Show wagering was canceled in the Boston Handicap due to the short field.
The track's showcase day of racing at the spring meet is March 15, when Colonial stages the $500,000 Virginia Derby and the $250,000 Virginia Oaks.
