Midlantic-Breds had a day for itself at Saratoga * The Racing Biz

During the Saratoga Summer Meet, the New York Racing Association offers a variety of theme days: Kids Day, First Responders Day, Nascare Day, Lustgarten Day.

Although it did not make the official calendar, on Saturday, July 19, maybe Midlantic Day on Saratoga Race Course would have been indicated, considering the races of the effort turned out.

Future is now (MD) and Book’em Danno (NJ) names two of the three posts that day, the future now rule in the grade 3 caressing, with Book’em Danno who won the grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, his third gradt victory, they all come to Saratoga.

Wore the black and white colors of her deceased owner and breeder R. Larry Johnson, Virginia-certified future has now been driven by Paco Lopez in Jersey. Last year she ran in third place in the Stringing and hit the thread only two necks behind the winner, Pennsylvania-Foked Dontlookbackatall. (PA-Breds Caravel and Roses for Debra won the race in 2021 and 2023, as a result of which midlantically bred horses victories in the efforts in four of the last five years.)

Future has now been shown an affinity for Saratoga, with a record of 3-1-1 of five starts on the Upstate New York Track, including a victory and a narrow second in the last two editions of the intercontinental use of grade 2.

Johnson died earlier this year and he was represented in the circle of the winner by his daughter Kelly, her husband Arturo and her children Isabella, Olivia and Arturo. Her sister Tracy was unable to make the trip to Saratoga.

“It’s incredible,” said Kelly in the circle of the winner. “I feel that he is looking down on us and would be so proud. We have always told him that we would continue his racing and breeding company, but we did not expect to take over so suddenly and quickly. This is a celebration of what he made. It is bittersweet but great.”

The future is now through a big idea and from the past of the Bernardini mare as Prelude. Of the five offspring to reach the races, three of them have earned more than $ 300,000. Virginia-Bred Continental Congress (2019) $ 313,800 placed multiple deployment; Winner Future in several Graded Stakes is now (2020) booked $ 748,410; and Graded Stakes posted in Maryland-Fokkt Call Another Play (2021) has earned $ 370,345.

She comes from the same female family as the multiframe with several degrees 1 winner, recent Victor in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.

The future has now been trained by Maryland -resident Michael Trombetta, who said he might follow the same path with the Bay Mare as last year, from the stroking to the Smart N Fancy Stakes in Saratoga, which she won, and then by using Races in Keeneland in Keeneland in October.

“She has been a gem,” said Trombetta. “She is easy to train, does everything fine. She appears almost every time.”

Lopez was also in the saddle for the Vanderbilt, but in contrast to the outdoor journey that is now preferred, Book’em Danno rode the ground before he caught rival Mullikin in the rack, as he did in the true northern effort in Saratoga in June. And as he did in the true north, Book’em Danno clearly brought to win the victory at 2 1/2 lengths.

Just like the future is now, Book’em Danno is Virginia certified, and as the future is now, he loves Saratoga, with three victories and a third out of four starts, all in Graded Stakes.

The background story of the 4-year-old gelding is now known: a group of friends who owned horses in the 1980s drove away from the sport while they brought up families and have grouped again in recent years, the world and the country have driven a horse that chose their managing partner from a field in Virginia.

That partner, Jay Briscione, could not be in Saratoga for the Vanderbilt; His son married in Virginia. But a few years ago, Briscione and his brother, who is a horse dentist, talked about repairing the partnership. His brother suggested that he contacts someone in Virginia who had sold New Jersey-bred. Briscione follows the races closely and he knew that a mare called Girl Trouble had recently won in Monmouth. The younger half-brother of Girl Trouble was one of those Virginia horses for sale, and when Briscione saw him, he said, “I will take them.”

Since then, Book’em has earned only $ 1.6 million, with 9 victories from 15 Starts, with three victories and a second. Trainer Derek Ryan has the degree 1 in view of Saratoga on August 23, but, well aware of the sweaters of his customers, he keeps his options open.

‘You never know, “he said with a smile.” There is a strikes bred in MONMouth where we might also be able to throw it in. You never know. ”