Derek Ryan

Book'em Danno (Bucchero), the best horse the New Jersey breeding program has produced in decades, will return to the Garden State and make his next start in the July 17 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park. The race will be run the day before the GI Haskell Stakes and the purse will be increased from $100,000 to $200,000. It will be Book'em Danno's first start in New Jersey since he won the July 19, 2024 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth, "This has been in the works for a long time,"...

This past season, Eclipse Award voters were forced to choose between the season-long body of work assembled by Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno (g, 5, Bucchero--Adorabella, by Ghostzapper) and the brilliance shown in a pair of big-figure victories achieved by Bentornato (Valiant Minister), capped by success in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. That contest was purposely given a pass by the Book'em Danno team. Book'em Danno prevailed in one of the closest battles on Eclipse evening, and on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga, the argument was settled--belatedly--on the racetrack, as Book'em...

Monmouth Park and the connections of last year's champion male sprinter, Book'em Danno (Bucchero), are negotiating to get the five-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding to race at Monmouth on Friday, July 17, which is the day before the track's premier event, the GI Haskell Stakes. Dennis Drazin, the chairman and chief executive officer of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth, disclosed the plans during Wednesday's New Jersey Racing Commission meeting. Drazin explained that the initiative would involve a special day in Book'em Danno's honor, with the aim of promoting the overall...

Bush Racing Stable's Point Dume (Into Mischief) fended off Champion Male Sprinter Book'em Danno (Bucchero) by a neck on the front end to capture Saturday's GII Carter at Aqueduct Racetrack. Earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, the bay will continue to run in high-level races, although trainer Tim Kreiser still needs to determine a next spot. "He looked really good this morning, walking around the barn like a soldier," Kreiser said. "He ran a really good race. They put heat on him early, turning for home, he dispatched that one...

The in-form Point Dume (Into Mischief) shipped in from his base at Penn National and lowered the colors of the returning Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in Saturday's GII Carter Stakes at Aqueduct. The 7-1 second-longest shot on the board was ridden along from the inside stall and made the running in advance of rank outsider Acoustic Ave (Maclean's Music) through a very steady opening quarter in :23.01 as Book'em Danno, the 4-5 chalk and wearing front wraps for the first time in his career, settled just in behind...

Reigning Eclipse Champion Book'em Danno (Bucchero) has been named New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year for the third consecutive year by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey, the organization said in a press release on Tuesday. Owned by Atlantic Six Racing LLC and trained by Derek Ryan, the gelding won four of five starts during 2025. The state's all-time leading New Jersey-bred money earner, now boasting $1,855,425 in career earnings, swept Saratoga's older sprint series--the GIII True North Stakes, GII Vanderbilt Stakes and GI Forego Stakes--en route to being...

The 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint will not include what may be the best sprinter in training. Trainer Derek Ryan announced Saturday that his star New Jersey-bred Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) is done for the year. Ryan had never fully committed to the Breeders' Cup, saying it was "50-50" in previous interviews. The story was first reported by the Paulick Report. "We've decided to wind it up for the year," Ryan said. "I think he's done enough. He's had a hard and tough campaign. Look what he did at Saratoga...

In the paddock for the GI Forego Stakes, nearly every other horse was flanked by handlers. A few pranced or eyed the crowd warily, as their teams worked to keep them focused on the task at hand. Meanwhile Book'em Danno (Bucchero) ambled placidly in front of the saddling stalls. His lone handler gave him an occasional pat, but otherwise the pair seemed impervious to the commotion around them. That steady demeanor has been one of Book'em Danno's trademarks, and it's one of the reasons why bringing the multiple Grade I...

Jay Briscione is one of the lucky co-owners enjoying the ride of a lifetime with the fan-favorite New Jersey-bred Book'em Danno. He joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to share the story behind the gelding, who added a third straight graded win in this weekend's GI Forego Stakes, and discuss what's in store for his future.

On the day before the win in the GI Forego Stakes by Book 'em Danno (Bucchero), trainer Derek Ryan had already made up his mind about the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. He had no plans to go. "I'm really not that interested in the Breeders' Cup," Ryan said. "I have no desire to go there. I'm sure I'll be pressured into it, but the Breeders' Cup is not on my radar. I'm not keen to run him on a track that I don't think will suit him. The stretch is...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. - A year ago, Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) buzzed through her season, winning six of seven starts--five of them Grade Is--on her way to Horse of the Year honors. Kenny McPeek, Thorpedo Anna's trainer, says his stable star is just as good, if not better, than she was a year ago. The 4-year-old filly, still as popular as ever, will get the chance to prove it on Saturday when she runs in the GI, $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. "Every bit," McPeek said...

Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno (Bucchero) has emerged from his career-best effort in a Grade I-quality renewal of the GII A. G. Vanderbilt Stakes on July 19 in good order, and connections are currently mulling over their options as they chart a course for the back end of the gelding's 4-year-old season. In posting a lofty 111 Beyer Speed Figure, the New Jersey-bred was taking his career record to 9-3-1 from 15 starts and his $220,000 paycheck over the weekend lifted his earnings to $1,580,425 "You always hope these horses...