Book'em Danno likely out through first portion of 2027
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Trainer Derek Ryan confirmed the news that Book’em Danno will miss the rest of the 2026 season because of a hyper-extended left leg injury. The gelding will require four months to recover, which will “probably” rule him out of races in the Middle East early next year as well.
“We did the same last year,” Ryan said Wednesday morning. “He needed a break, so now he needs a break, and rather than rush to get him back in November when the season’s over, I’ll start again next year.”
Jay Briscione, a co-owner of Atlantic Six Racing, was the first to report the latest update on social media on Tuesday, stating that the ownership group intends to bring Book’em Danno back in 2027. That message did not contain any news on trips to the Middle East, but Ryan said he considers it unlikely that he will be ready in time.
Earlier this year, Ryan said he was trying a slightly lighter path for Book’em Danno in the hopes of preparing the Eclipse champion sprinter for his first Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Instead of staying at Saratoga after winning the Grade 3 True North, he shipped home to Monmouth Park and won the $225,000 Mr. Prospector in July.
Back at Saratoga in August, the New Jersey-bred was considered the likely favorite in the Grade 1 Forego, but he had a stall mishap that forced his connections to scratch. Ryan said it became increasingly clear that something was wrong.
“That morning, he was slightly off and got worse as the day went on,” Ryan said. “We got him home, did an ultrasound, and couldn’t find anything. X-rayed him and couldn’t find anything. So we sent him out for a scintigraphy, and he had [a slight strain], and that’s what it is. It just takes time.”
Book’em Danno was removed from Breeders’ Cup consideration on Sept. 6, and he also may be ruled out of the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia and Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in the United Arab Emirates next year.
Last year, Book’em Danno did not run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint because his connections were reluctant to ship to Del Mar, especially while jockey Paco Lopez was suspended. Plans for this year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen fell through because of travel concerns surrounding the conflict in the Middle East.
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