Book'em Danno to return in either Carter or Commonwealth
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Book’em Danno, the champion sprinter of 2025, was not entered in Friday’s Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs, so his return to the races will come in either the Carter Stakes at Aqueduct or the Commonwealth at Keeneland.
Both stakes are run at seven furlongs on April 4. The Grade 3 Commonwealth, at $350,000, is worth $50,000 more than the Grade 2 Carter.
“Whichever is the easiest of the two,” trainer Derek Ryan said. “I’ll watch the weather and stuff like that. I’ve got a couple of New York-breds that I got to bring back [to New York].”
Book’em Danno has not run since winning the Forego last Aug. 23 at Saratoga, one of three stakes he won at Saratoga last summer. Ryan said the True North at Saratoga on June 6 and either the Alfred G. Vanderbilt or the Forego will be races he targets this summer.
“It’s going to be a lighter schedule so we’re still alive in October,” Ryan said.
Book’em Danno has worked four times at Tampa Bay Downs this year. Ryan postponed a Sunday workout for Book’em Danno due to the track’s condition. He said he is planning to work Book’em Danno on Wednesday at Tampa.
NYRA targets April 2 for turf
If Mother Nature cooperates – a huge if – then the New York Racing Association hopes to begin turf racing at Aqueduct on April 2, about three weeks earlier than last spring.
There are two turf races, one on each course, in the condition book starting April 3. The $150,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes, a one-mile race for older females at one mile, is scheduled for April 4.
NYRA could increase its use of the turf beginning April 18, carding two races on each course, at least on weekends.
A previous version of this article misstated the grade for the Commonwealth Stakes. It is a Grade 3, not a Grade 2.
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