Book'em Danno Earns Third Straight New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year Title

Atlantic Six Racing's Bucchero gelding Book'em Danno claimed his third consecutive New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year title from the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey, the organization announced March 17. Trained by Derek Ryan, the gelding also swept the champion 3-year-old and champion sprinter titles, capping a 2024 campaign that put New Jersey breeding back on the Grade 1 map for the first time in seven years.

The season's signature moment came at Saratoga Race Course, where Book'em Danno won the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) on the Belmont Stakes undercard, becoming the first New Jersey-bred to win a Grade 1 race since 2017. That victory anchored a seven-start year in which the gelding posted three wins, two seconds, and $807,500 in earnings.

The campaign began emphatically at Tampa Bay Downs, where Book'em Danno romped to a 12 1/2-length victory in the Pasco Stakes to open his 3-year-old season. He then traveled to the $1 million Saudi Derby (G3), where he narrowly lost a photo finish to Japan's Forever Young. After the Woody Stephens triumph, he added the Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park before finishing in the money in both the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) and the Perryville (G3).

The broader awards list from the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey featured two other notable champions. New Spice Stable's homebred Smithwick's Spice, a 9-year-old son of Frost Giant trained by Douglas Nunn, earned champion older male and champion turf horse honors after winning five stakes in 2024, including the Leinster Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and the Select Stakes at Monmouth Park. His 14-career-win total has produced $730,542 in lifetime earnings.

Among the juveniles, J J Zo Zo captured the champion 2-year-old title on the strength of an 8 1/2-length victory in the Smoke Glacken Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Jose Garcia homebred, a son of New Jersey sire Sea Wizard out of Lost Princess by Stephen Got Even, is trained by Jose Sanchez. The dominant margin in that win signals a promising 3-year-old season ahead for the state's newest homegrown prospect.