Book'em Danno skipping Dubai
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After initially saying he was using the Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs as a prep for the Godolphin Mile on April 5 at Meydan for Book’em Danno, trainer Derek Ryan has changed his mind and opted to keep the Grade 1-winning New Jersey-bred home for a domestic campaign.
“It’s a little too quick back with the traveling and everything,” Ryan said Monday. “We don’t like to run back in three weeks anyway. We had it in our minds, but it’s just not the right thing to do.”
Ryan said the horse was vanned to a farm in Ocala right after his win at Colonial, but he was due back at Tampa Bay Downs on Tuesday. Ryan said he would like to give the gelding five to six weeks before he makes his next start. Races like the Grade 1, $1 million Churchill Downs on May 3 or the Grade 3, $175,000 Westchester at Aqueduct on May 4 would give Book’em Danno seven weeks between races.
Ryan said several different speed figures had the Boston as a fast race, another reason he didn’t want to run Book’em Danno back on short rest. Also, the horse would have had to ship to Dubai this Saturday.
Originally drawn with 11, the Boston went with just three runners. Under Paco Lopez, Book’em Danno stalked the pace before taking control and edging away to win by 2 1/2 lengths, earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
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