OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The Grade 1 winner Book’em Danno is back in New York and will aim for the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, a race that could serve as an audition for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh in February 2025. Book’em Danno, winner of the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Saratoga in June, is 6 for 10 with his six wins coming at seven furlongs or shorter. He has twice finished second going a one-turn mile, including the Grade 3, $1.5 million Saudi Derby in which he was beaten a head by Forever Young in February. Book’em Danno was also beaten three-quarters of a length when second in the Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct in November 2023. “If he runs his race [in the Cigar], I’m trying to get him out to Saudi Arabia for the big one,” Ryan said. “That’s a one-turn mile and an eighth. The way he’s starting to race now he’ll have no trouble going a mile and an eighth.” :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Ryan has Book’em Danno nominated to the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint, a six-furlong race at Mahoning Valley on Nov. 25, but said the Cigar Mile is his top choice. Others pointing to that race included Locked, Law Professor, Coastal Mission and possibly Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Post Time. Should Book’em Danno not show in the Cigar Mile that he wants a mile or farther, Ryan said the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint at six furlongs is a back-up option. In his most recent start, Book’em Danno finished second, beaten a neck in the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 19. “He got a little unlucky, he got stuck down there on the inside of horses, I’d rather he had come on the outside, but racing luck is racing luck,” Ryan said. “He knew he was in trouble at the eighth pole, then he started bullying his way through. I think he was the best horse.” Book’em Dano has been based at Belmont Park for the past few weeks having worked twice including a five-furlong move in 1:00.34 over Belmont’s training track on Sunday. Ryan said that following the Cigar Mile, Book’em Danno will head to Tampa Bay Downs, where Ryan typically spends the winter. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.