Atlantic Six Racing’s Book’em Danno, current leader in the sprint division, will bypass the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in Nov. 1 at Del Mar and be aimed for a 2026 campaign, Daily Racing Form reports.
The 4-year-old Bucchero gelding was regularly ridden by Paco Lopez, including his last-out victory in the Forego (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga, and trainer Derek Ryan cited the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s recent six-month suspension of the jockey as one of the reasons to skip the Breeders’ Cup although throughout the summer he expressed little interest in pointing to the race.
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Lopez was handed the suspension from HISA after it was determined he violated the terms of his conditional reinstatement following a Dec. 4, 2024, incident involving his use of the whip at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa. Fellow riders and The Jockeys Guild took issue with latest suspension calling it “absolutely uncalled for and beyond ludicrous” in a statement issued Sept. 25.
“I was never keen on going to the Breeders’ Cup anyway and with the disgraceful thing they are doing to Paco Lopez, we’re going to call it a year and send him to Florida to freshen up for next season,” Ryan told the Form. “Paco is the hardest working jockey around and has definitely been a major reason for the success this horse has had this season.”
Book’em Danno climbed up the class ladder in the sprint division during an 11-week period from June through August at Saratoga as winner of the True North (G3), Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2), and Forego, in which he earned an automatic fees-paid berth into the $2-million Sprint via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win and You’re In’ series.
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This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.