Ryan chooses Jerkens over Charles Town for Book’em Danno

Book’em Danno, who was cross-entered for two stakes races this week at two different tracks, will go Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga, his trainer said Wednesday.

Derek Ryan confirmed in a text to Horse Racing Nation what was reported first by BloodHorse. Book’em Danno also was entered for Friday night’s $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town, where he would have been the 7-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 3-year-olds.

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“He got a good post,” Ryan told Thoroughbred Daily News, referring to the 8 hole Book’em Danno drew for the one-turn Jerkens. “At Charles Town he got a bad post (2), and it’s a two-turn race.”

In what figures to be a more competitive field of sophomores, Book’em Danno will be the 7-2 program favorite in the Jerkens. Of the 11 entrants, six already have Beyer Speed Figures of at least 100, according to Daily Racing Form. The 3-year-old Bucchero gelding trained by Ryan and owned by Atlantic Six Racing has two triple-digit Beyers, most recently earning a 101 for his July 19 win in the Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park.

Javier Castellano gets the ride Saturday on Book’em Danno, who won the Woody Stephens (G1) on June 8 covering the same course and distance as the Jerkens.

The Jerkens, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EDT, will be the 12th of 14 races on Saturday’s Travers (G1) card at Saratoga. The National Weather Service predicted a sunny day with a high near 80 degrees.