Book’em Danno Secures Back-to-Back True North Stakes Victories
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — In a contest between two of the top sprinters in training, Book’em Danno defeated Bentornato by three-quarters of a length to win Saturday’s Grade 3 True North Stakes at Saratoga.
Book’em Danno, the 2025 champion sprinter, tracked behind Listenupshance and Bentornato (last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner), who were nearly neck-and-neck through a half-mile in 43.44 seconds. As the field turned for home, jockey Paco Lopez moved Book’em Danno to the outside. While Bentornato and Listenupshance dueled through the stretch, Book’em Danno surged past both late in the race. Bentornato finished second, beating Listenupshance by a nose.
The race results continued with Imagination finishing fourth after steadying on the backside, followed by Illuminare and Faust. Acoustic Ave, Be You, and Pentathlon were scratched from the event.
This victory marks the second consecutive True North win for Book’em Danno, a feat previously achieved by Firenze Fire in 2020-21. The win brings his record at Saratoga to five wins from six starts and his overall record to 11 wins from 18 starts. His sprint championship last year was supported by victories at Saratoga in the True North, Forego, and Alfred G. Vanderbilt. Bentornato also had a strong previous year, going 2 for 2, which included his Breeders’ Cup Sprint win.
Book’em Danno, a 5-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding by Bucchero owned by Atlantic Six Racing, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.79. He returned $5.72 as the second betting choice.
Trainer Derek Ryan noted that Book’em Danno had been training “unbelievable” and benefited from Listenupshance rushing up to challenge Bentornato early after a slow break. This follows Book’em Danno’s 2026 campaign opener in the Grade 2 Carter, where he lost by a neck to Point Dume—a result Ryan attributed to the horse being one workout short.
Bentornato, the even-money favorite, was making his second start of the year following a second-place finish in March’s Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan. Trainer Jose D’Angelo expressed concern regarding the 6 1/2-furlong distance, noting that six of Bentornato’s seven wins occurred at six furlongs or shorter (with one win at seven furlongs in a Florida Stallion Stakes). D’Angelo believed the fractions may have cost Bentornato the race.
Jockey Antonio Fresu reported that Listenupshance missed the break after acting up in the gate, though he was able to find a spot on the inside to duel with Bentornato.
Looking ahead, Book’em Danno will skip the July 25 Alfred G. Vanderbilt and will likely target the Grade 1 Forego at seven furlongs on Aug. 29. If trainer Jose D’Angelo prefers to keep Bentornato at six furlongs, he will likely target the Vanderbilt.
