Book’em Danno Delivers for Home Fans in Mr. Prospector Stakes Victory

Rather than a routine effort against graded-stakes-caliber competition he typically faces, this race was described as a “good, clean fight”—the kind trainer Derek Ryan says the champion has relished throughout his 19-race career.

“It’s kind of weird everything has gone to plan for the last two years,” Ryan said. “You hate to say it, but this was perfect timing and it worked out the way I wanted it. Hopefully, we get one more race before the Breeders’ Cup.

Racing at Monmouth, his home track, for the first time in nearly two years, Book’em Danno was tested by two Mid-Atlantic challengers before proving his class to earn his 10th career stakes victory. He remains undefeated in four starts in New Jersey.

A large group of owners representing Atlantic Six Racing filled the winner’s circle after the race, requiring track officials to guide them onto the track for the photo. “We got what we wanted and you’ve seen the crowd that was there,” Ryan said. “All the owners are local, so everyone got to see him.”

Book’em Danno was the only horse under 30-1 with 16 minutes to post, ultimately going off as the favorite and paying $2.20 to win.

In the six-furlong sprint, 6-1 second choice Quint’s Brew and New Jersey-bred longshot Boardwalk Jack both pushed for the early lead, challenging Book’em Danno and jockey Paco Lopez on the backstretch. Quint’s Brew, breaking from an inside post, took a brief lead and ran the opening quarter-mile in 22.42 seconds.

“Quint’s Brew is a good horse,” Lopez said. “He has run some good numbers so I knew he would be pressing us. Everybody seemed like they had a little speed and I didn’t want to rush my horse just to make the lead. I know he can come from behind.”

Boardwalk Jack, trained by Eddie Owens Jr., eventually faded from contention, but Quint’s Brew, a six-time stakes winner, continued to challenge on the outside. Doroteo, Silver Slugger, and Full Moon Madness were never factors.

Jockey Forest Boyce urged Quint’s Brew forward, and even after Book’em Danno took a short lead through a half-mile in 45.25, the Ned Allard-trained gelding remained close entering the stretch. Ryan said he wasn’t nervous during the race itself, but felt he probably should have been after watching the replay from the winner’s circle.

Book’em Danno, who Ryan said has been “tearing the barn down” in training, proved to be one of the few horses capable of turning back Quint’s Brew’s challenge. The heavy favorite kicked clear with authority, completing the six-furlong distance in 1:09.37.

“He was very comfortable the whole way, even with all of the pressure he had,” Lopez said. “He sometimes waits for pressure. I think he’s a better horse this year than he was last year. He’s more mature, he has put on some weight, and he has a lot of confidence.”

Last month, Book’em Danno defeated Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 3 True North at Saratoga. While comparing margins across races has limitations, Quint’s Brew’s 1 1/4-length defeat here stands as a notably strong effort in this comparison. Quint’s Brew finished 4 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Boardwalk Jack.

Ryan explained that he selected the Mr. Prospector—whose purse doubled because a multiple Grade 1 winner competed—to avoid running Book’em Danno in three consecutive graded stakes at Saratoga. Last year, Ryan swept the True North, Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, and Grade 1 Forego, while intentionally skipping the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Keeneland on Oct. 31, and Ryan’s goal is to keep Book’em Danno fresh for that race. He will likely return to New York for the Forego next month.