Book’em Danno -owners appreciate each start top sprinter

Atlantic Six Racing received an offer for Book’em damage Last season, when he was a 3-year-old, a proposal that was so substantial, it led every partner to take a deep breath and to judge priorities.

Although partner Jim Scappi did not reveal the amount, he made it clear that it was huge. “We have offered so much money,” he said, “we will never come back.”

No matter how tempting the potential payment day was, Scappi made a point of other members of the modest partnership that ruled the day. “Guys,” he said, “there is nothing in the life you can do that is so much fun.”

They knew little when they decided to keep all gelding bred by New Jersey that the pleasure just started. Their reported $ 30,000 private purchase of the son of Bucchero Adorabella has emerged from the mare as a speed star who may be without the same.

Book’em Danno was a summer sensation in sweeping three salty races Saratoga Race Course: De Grade 3 True North Stakes 7 June, the degree 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes July 19 and the degree 1 Forego Stakes 23 August. When trainer Derek Ryan was asked if he thinks he has the most important sprinter of the nation in his Monmouth Park Barn, he replied, “Why shouldn’t I? What could be better than the three races at Saratoga?”

Book’em Danno took the 6 1/2 Furlong True North with a length and fifteen minutes when he blew past Mulch With a late hurry on a sloppy track. He conquered a Bobble and bumps at the beginning to control the six Furlong Vanderbilt with 2 1/2 lengths. He was resisting Scotland The furious load to catch the foregoing with a length of seven furlongs.

According to Scappi, three partners approached him after the preference to shake his hand and give the same message. “Thank you for talking to us not to sell.”

Few expected that the book Danno named by partner Mark Rubenstein for the characteristic line in the old crime-fighting television show Hawaii Five-OOOW would be so fast.

“Just to make those three races is difficult enough,” said Ryan, “let alone winning those three.”

Jay Briscione, the managing partner of Atlantic Six, is constantly impressed by a burner who blew away their expectations. The initial goal of the New Jersey -established partnership of friends and business acquaintances was to take advantage of thin ranks bred by the state with a runner who was able to go through his reimbursement conditions against that competition.

Briscione always asks Ryan what Danno separates from the Swift Company that he keeps. His answer: “Heart and Spirit.”

That has been a deadly combination, which leads to 10 victories in 16 starts with three seconds and a third for a win of $ 1,855,425. Profits have come in Monmouth, Aqueduct” Tampa Bay Downs” Colonial downsAnd saratoga.

Danno did not succeed in touching the plate twice. He joined the cigar mile handicap (G1) at Aqueduct in December. He missed at a neck for the whole case to take the fourth behind Mind frame ” Exile And Nysos In the degree 1 Churchill Downs Stakes as part of the Kentucky Derby Day card.

Those who want to see Danno’s immense heart only have to see him compete. If he can first take himself to the finish; He will. As far as His Spirit is concerned, Ryan said, “He knows what to do and when he has to do it.”

As special as Danno it is also the interaction with him. Despite his strange way, the gelding has thrive under Ryan’s care. The trainer thinks long and hard before selecting every race.

“There are trainers and there are riders. Nowadays not every trainer is a rider,” said Briscione. “Derek is a rider and he is a trainer and he has absolutely fantastic work with this horse. You look at the consistency that this horse has had since his 2-year year and it is phenomenal.”

The addition of Jockey Paco Lopez to the team has been huge. It was important for Ryan that he had a jockey who wants to work Danno to get to know him as much as possible and someone who would connect to ride him wherever and wherever he started. They have not looked back since Lopez has registered.

Danno will get a start this season. Ryan, after initially excluding from the November 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Sea While he looks at a long career in front of the gelding, you put that race back on the table as one of the different options. Where and how Danno’s memorable season ends, his rise reminds everyone that there is room in the kings of kings for those who are neither rich nor famous.

“If you go out of the game, you have to stay because of a horse like Book’em Danno,” said Briscione. “And if you go into the game, you come in because of a horse like Danno. You don’t have to spend a million dollars.”

Bring a group of friends together, spend $ 30,000 on a horse that may not look, and the experience can be priceless.