Book'em Danno to be Honored at Monmouth Park

Wherever Book'em Danno eventually fits in the annals of the best New Jersey-bred horses of all time, he will soon be able to claim a distinction that none of the others can: a day in his honor at Monmouth Park that includes a showcase race for him. Monmouth Park has officially designated July 17 as Book'em Danno Day, with the multiple grade 1 winner and 2025 Eclipse champion male sprinter scheduled to race in the 6-furlong Mr. Prospector Stakes that day. Under the conditions of the race, the $100,000 purse for the Mr. Prospector doubles to $200,000 if a multiple grade 1 winner starts in the race. "We're pleased to be able to give our fans this unique opportunity to see one of the greatest New Jersey-breds of all time while he is still in his prime and racing," said John F. Heims, Monmouth Park's general manager. "This is where it all started for Book'em Danno so it's kind of a full-circle moment for him and us." In addition, Monmouth Park will have a special Book'em Danno T-shirt giveaway to the first 2,000 paid admissions that day. The day will include free admission for Oceanport, N.J., residents as well. Bred by Gregory J. Kilka and Bright View Farm, the 5-year-old gelded son of Bucchero is 11-for-18 lifetime, having captured five graded stakes and nine black-type stakes overall since winning on debut Aug. 12, 2023 at Monmouth Park. He followed that up by winning the Smoke Glacken Stakes four weeks later and won the 2024 edition of the Jersey Shore Stakes in his only other appearance at Monmouth Park. Since then, he has become the all-time leader among state-breds with $2,135,425 in earnings, winning the 2024 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) and 2025 Forego Stakes (G1). He has been named New Jersey Horse of the Year three times. Trained by Derek Ryan and owned by Monmouth County-based Atlantic Six Racing, Book'em Danno is coming off a gutsy win June 6 in the True North Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course. Book'em Danno's accomplishments have earned him a place in the conversation with past New Jersey-bred greats such as Regret, the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby (in 1915), and Open Mind, a two-time Eclipse champion who won the 1989 Filly Triple Crown. Regret and Open Mind are both in the Racing Hall of Fame.