In the world of horse racing, few stories are as inspiring as that of Book'em Danno, the champion male sprinter who defied all odds to become an Eclipse Award winner in 2025. But here's where it gets controversial... This tale is not just about a horse's remarkable achievements; it's also about the power of friendship and the unexpected twists of fate that can shape our dreams. Atlantic Six Racing's Jay Briscione and his five Jersey Shore friends—Frank Camassa, Jeff Resnikoff, Mark Rubenstein, James Rubenstein, and Jim Scappi—never imagined their shared dream of having a 'horse of a lifetime' would become a reality. But that's exactly what happened when Book'em Danno was named the Eclipse Award champion male sprinter for 2025.
Book'em Danno, bred in New Jersey by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm, has been a truly special horse to trainer Derek Ryan and his career. "I didn't really have much stock worth talking about," Ryan said. "I was nearly ready to take a (foreign) job, so he came along at the right time."
The horse's five-race campaign from March to August with Paco Lopez in the irons was nothing short of remarkable. Starting the season with a win just .17 seconds off the Colonial Downs track record in the Boston Handicap and a neck defeat in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) when fourth over a sloppy track to Mindframe, Nysos, and Banishing—all of whom would add graded triumphs around two turns as the year progressed—Book'em Danno left his mark. But it was at Saratoga Race Course where he truly made his mark.
"Where does everybody want to win? Saratoga," Ryan said. And the Atlantic Six team certainly would be included in that statement, Briscione saying he and his friends have made the journey north each summer for nearly two decades. "To be there, running on Belmont day and Travers day—I can't really put into words what he's meant to us, what kind of horse he is, and how lucky we are to be involved," Briscione said.
With ongoing construction at Belmont Park shifting the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to the Spa from 2024-2026 creating a unique opportunity, Book'em Danno seized it. Staying in top form all summer against the top sprinters on the East Coast, he completed a historic sweep of the True North (G3), Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2), and Forego (G1) stakes in one summer at Saratoga. "He couldn't have a better year than he had," Ryan said. "He's done something that was never done before, win (those) three graded stakes at Saratoga. Unless someone does it this year, it won't ever be done again."
Book'em Danno's win in the Forego also saw him surpass Hall of Famer Open Mind as the all-time leading New Jersey-bred earner with $1,855,425 in the bank. He is the first New Jersey-bred Eclipse Award winner since Open Mind was named 1989's champion 3-year-old filly. "The fact he's a New Jersey-bred tells people: if you've been in this game and you haven't had a horse like this and you're tired of paying bills, stay in a little longer because look what happened to us," Briscione said. "If you're thinking of getting into the game and you love horse racing, get into it because you could have a horse like him."
But here's where it gets controversial... Some might argue that Book'em Danno's success was not just about his own abilities but also about the support and belief of his team. The question remains: how much of his success can be attributed to the team's efforts, and how much to his own innate talent? This is the part most people miss... The answer may lie in the intricate dance between a horse's natural abilities and the nurturing, strategic decisions made by its handlers. It's a delicate balance that can make or break a champion's legacy. So, what do you think? Do you agree or disagree with this interpretation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
