Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
Thoroughbred Daily News
Pounded into 4-5 favoritism to add Saturday's GI Forego Stakes to previous victories in the GIII True North Stakes and in the A.G. Vanderbilt Stakes–a Grade II in name only–Atlantic Six Racing's BOOK'EM DANNO (g, 4, Bucchero–Adorabella, by Ghostzapper) took a split between horses in upper stretch, pinched a bit of a break inside the final furlong and held off a late rally from Scotland (Good Magic) to take the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Scratched down into gate three, the two-time New Jersey horse of the year was ridden forward by Paco Lopez, as has become his custom, and was prominently placed for the run down the backstretch as Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}) dueled up front with longshot Hold My Bourbon (Anchor Down) through a pace that was moderate in comparison to the ones set in the GI H. Allen Jerkens and in the GI Ballerina Stakes, both at the same distance.
With defending champ Mullikin (Violence) to his outside, Book'em Danno was being niggled at by Lopez three furlongs down and he was back into the bridle heading for home, taking the run between the staying-on Most Wanted and the retreating Hold My Bourbon before holding the late bid from Scotland by a length. Crazy Mason (Coal Front) was on the scene late for third.
Lifetime Record: 16-10-3-1. O-Atlantic Six Racing; B-Greg Kilka & Bright View Farm (NJ); T-Derek Ryan.