The $500,000 Forego Stakes (G1), which boasted one of the biggest favorites on the Aug. 29 Travers Stakes day card at Saratoga Race Course, took on a new complexion on race day when even-money choice Book'em Danno was scratched.
According to trainer Derek Ryan, the 5-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding cast himself in his stall, sustaining a minor leg injury, but one that would prevent him from racing Saturday.
"He got here (Friday) and he likes to roll and was rolling like a son of a gun in his stall. I came in this morning and he was little off," Ryan said. He will probably be fine tomorrow. I couldn't even see it myself until I had someone else jog him. It's just one of those things."
Ryan said he would likely point the Bucchero gelding toward the Sept. 26 Vosburgh Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park as his final prep for the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.
Owned by the New Jersey-based Atlantic Six Racing, Book'em Danno rates as the one of the sport's top sprinters. The multiple grade 1 winner, who captured last year's Forego, has won 12 of 19 starts and earned $2,270,425.
