Saratoga: Book’em Danno, Future Is Now win graded stakes

Book’em Danno picked up his third graded score at Saratoga with an emphatic, 2 1/2-length victory over familiar foe Mullikin in the Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for older horses.

Owned by Atlantic Six Racing, trained by Derek Ryan and piloted by Paco López, the 4-year-old Bucchero gelding replicated a winning effort at Saratoga last month when he was 1 1/4 lengths the better of Mullikin in sloppy and sealed conditions in the True North (G3). He also added to a strong Spa ledger that includes a win in the Woody Stephens (G1) and a troubled third in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) last year.

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“Well, he won very good. The last time he won at Saratoga, I was pretty sure that horse loves Saratoga,” said López, who captured the Caress (G3) earlier Saturday with Future Is Now. “He really, really likes that track, and this is a very nice horse. Derek Ryan has done a very good job for that horse.”

Júnior Alvarado-piloted Damon’s Mound went to the lead from the inside post and marked the opening quarter-mile in 22.07 seconds over the fast main track with Mullikin to his outside.

Book’em Danno, after a slight bobble at the break, saved ground as part of a trio of tracking rivals in Baby Yoda and Nakatomi as Mullikin edged to the lead into the turn. Book’em Danno advanced along the rail through the turn and angled to the outside of Mullikin for the stretch run after a half-mile in 44.65 seconds.

Ridden by José Ortiz, Mullikin battled gamely from the top of the lane, but Book’em Danno took over inside the final furlong and stopped the clock at a final time of 1:08.98. It was 3 3/4 lengths back to Nakatomi in third with Damon’s Mound, Baby Yoda and Nash completing the order of finish. Skelly and Full Moon Madness were scratched.

“I think that was one of his best efforts so far. He came into the race great,” Ryan said. “He’s 4-for-4 now going six. (López) rides him so good. He gets him to the outside, and that is key. That’s the way he likes to be ridden. He likes to see the target on his inside. When he’s inside, he’s always getting late on him, but that was perfect, and they ran pretty fast.”

Book’em Danno, a repeat winner as New Jersey-bred horse of the year in 2023 and 2024, is a seven-time stakes winner. He is out of unraced Ghostzapper mare Adorabella, who also produced dual stakes winner Girl Trouble.

Ryan said Book’em Danno could return to the Spa for the seven-furlong $500,000 Forego (G1) on Aug. 23, which offers a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Mullikin was an emphatic winner of last year's Forego.

“That is the obvious, legitimate spot,” Ryan said. “So right now I’d say the Forego, because really, there is nothing else. But you never know.”

Book’em Danno banked $220,000 in victory while improving his record to 15: 9-3-1. He returned $4.80 for a $2 win bet as the 7-5 mutuel favorite.

Future Is Now gets revenge in Caress

Future Is Now avenged a half-length defeat last out in the Intercontinental (G2) with a determined, half-length score in the $175,000 Caress Stakes (G3), a 5 1/2-furlong, turf sprint for nine fillies and mares.

Bred and owned by the estate of Larry Johnson, trained by Michael Trombetta and ridden by López, the 5-year-old Great Notion mare turned the tables after finishing second to Pipsy in June 5 in the Intercontinental.

Future Is Now was drawn Saturday in post 7 directly outside Pipsy and found herself in a good stalking position in second as Twirling Queen rocketed through splits of 21.15 and 43.59 seconds over the firm turf. Twirling Queen stubbornly kept finding at the top of the lane, but Future Is Now continued to grind away to her outside and got up to score with a final time of 1:01.08.

“A perfect trip today,” López said. “Last time I had a very bad trip, and I was inside, no choice but to be inside, and today, perfect trip with the same fillies. Better position. I break, and nobody wants to go. I let her go. Why wait?”

Alvarado-ridden Zeitlos, last early, rallied stoutly down the lane, splitting Kairyu and Obstreperous, to earn place honors by a neck over fellow closer Time to Dazzle. Twirling Queen was a nose back in fourth. Kairyu and Pandora’s Gift dead-heated for fifth. Toupie, Pipsy and Obstreperous rounded out the order of finish. Main-track-only entrants Halina’s Forte, Little Prankster and Caress were scratched.

A claim of foul by Dylan Davis, rider of Time to Dazzle, against the winner for interference at the quarter-pole, where Time to Dazzle was on the heels of Pipsy, was dismissed.

Future Is Now picked up her sixth stakes win and added to previous graded scores last year in the Intercontinental at Saratoga and the Franklin (G2) in October at Keeneland. She launched her 2025 campaign with a victory in the Giant’s Causeway (G3) before her runner-up effort in the Intercontinental.

Trombetta said Future Is Now could return to the Spa for a title defense in the listed, 5 1/2-furlong, $150,000 Smart and Fancy on Aug. 15.

“That is what we did last year. We’ll see how she bounces out of it and then plan what is left of the season,” Trombetta said. “This season comes and goes pretty quickly, so ultimately we want to possibly do that and try to get to Keeneland again in the fall.”

Future Is Now banked $96,250 in victory while improving her record to 17: 9-2-1. She returned $6.40 to win as the slight 2-1 favorite.