Book'em Danno may make 5-year-old debut in Golden Shaheen
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While neither Imagination nor Just Beat the Odds – the two U.S.-based sprinters who finished one-two in the Riyadh Dirt Stakes in Saudi Arabia last weekend – are heading to Dubai for next month’s $2 million Golden Shaheen, another prominent U.S.-based sprinter is now being considered for the lucrative race.
Book’em Danno, the reigning Eclipse champion sprinter, is “way ahead of schedule” in his training, trainer Derek Ryan said Monday and the Golden Shaheen is now in play for the New Jersey-bred gelding’s 5-year-old debut.
“We might make Dubai,” Ryan said. “The plane leaves on [March 17], that gives us four more works. I’ll decide in the next couple of weeks.”
Other races Ryan mentioned for Book’em Danno as potential starting spots are the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter at Aqueduct or the Grade 3, $350,000 Commonwealth at Keeneland. Both races are scheduled for April 4.
Book’em Danno, who has not raced since winning the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga last Aug. 23, worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds Sunday morning at Tampa Bay Downs. It was his second published work since returning to Ryan at the Oldsmar, Fla., track.
“He’s further along than I thought he would be,” Ryan said. “I had him go an easy half yesterday. He’s definitely bigger, stronger and feels better than last year.”
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