Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
Book’em Danno has been named the New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year. Additionally, he has received the titles of Champion Three-Year-Old and Champion Sprinter from the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey. Owned by Atlantic Six Racing LLC and trained by Derek Ryan, this gelding had an impressive season, achieving three wins and two second-place finishes in seven starts, accumulating total earnings of $807,500.
Book’em Danno began his three-year-old campaign with a commanding 12½-length victory in the $100,000 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, setting the stage for a strong 2024 season. His next challenge was the $1 million Saudi Derby, where he narrowly lost a photo finish to Japan’s Forever Young. Following that, he raced at Saratoga and made history as the first New Jersey-bred to win a Grade 1 race since 2017, claiming victory in the $500,000 Woody Stephens on the Belmont Derby undercard. He continued his success with a win in the $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park before finishing in the money at both the Allen Jerkens (Gr. 1) and the Perryville Stakes (Gr. 3).
Bred in New Jersey by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm, Book’em Danno is a son of Bucchero out of the Ghostzapper mare Adorabella.
Holly Crest Farm's homebred Riding Pretty earned the title of Champion Older Female due to her two stakes wins. The daughter of Jack Milton, out of the Girolamo mare High Renaissance, won the $85,000 Smart N Classy Handicap at one mile on dirt by 7½ lengths and the $100,000 Eleven North Handicap going six furlongs on dirt. Trained by Eddie Owens, Jr., Riding Pretty also finished second in the Jersey Girl Handicap at Monmouth Park, which was contested at one mile on turf. She has career earnings of $374,370.
New Spice Stable’s homebred Smithwick’s Spice was named Champion Older Male and Champion Turf Runner after winning five stakes races in 2024. He captured his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Leinster Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. His next two stakes wins were the $100,000 Select Stakes and the $85,000 Joey P. Handicap, both run over the Monmouth Park turf course. The nine-year-old son of Frost Giant out of Spicy McHaggis, by Good and Tough, secured his fifth stakes win in the $100,000 Extravagant Kid Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Douglas Nunn, Smithwick’s Spice has won 14 races with total earnings of $730,542.
J J Zo Zo was named Champion Two-Year-Old after winning the $100,000 Smoke Glacken Stakes at Monmouth Park by 8½ lengths. The son of leading New Jersey sire Sea Wizard out of Lost Princess, by Stephen Got Even, is a homebred trained by Jose Sanchez and earned $125,343 during his championship campaign.
Adorabella received the title of Broodmare of the Year for the third consecutive year. Bred by Tracy Farmer, this 9-year-old mare is by Ghostzapper out of Alydorable by Arch. Gregory Kilka purchased her out of the Keeneland January 2020 Horse of All Ages Sale while she was in foal to Fast Anna. The resulting foal was the 2022 New Jersey-bred Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Girl Trouble ($283,890). Adorabella also produced the 2023 and 2024 New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year, Book’em Danno.
Sea Wizard has been named New Jersey Stallion of the Year for the second consecutive year after his progeny earned over $1,099,000 in 2024. Sea Wizard's third crop of runners includes the New Jersey-bred Champion Two-Year-Old J J Zo Zo, and he sired 13 winners in 2024, including stakes winner Sea Streak. Sea Wizard will stand the 2025 breeding season at Pegasus Farm in Colts Neck, New Jersey.