A field of eight sprinters including some Saratoga specialists hit the Spa on Saturday, July 19 for the $400,000 Grade II Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap over 1,200m. Three of last year’s top four finishers are back in Upstate New York for more.
Perhaps the one they all have to beat, however, is 2024 Woody Stephens Stakes winner Book’em Danno. Derek Ryan’s four-year-old Bucchero gelding enhanced his Graded record at Saratoga to two victories from three with success in the True North Stakes last month.
That length and a tail defeat of re-opposing second Mullikin meant Book’em Danno now has a couple of wins on the Belmont Stakes schedule from the big Festival that moved Upstate in 2024 while Belmont Park undergoes renovation. He meets Rodolphe Brisset’s sprinting star and Breeders’ Cup third off the same terms in the Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap of 2025.
True North success for Book’em Danno saw him confirm Churchill Downs Stakes form with Mullikin from the Kentucky Derby meet in the spring. The pair now drop back another 100m in distance from the June rematch. They are two of five horses sharing topweight in this valuable sprint handicap on the East Coast.
When landing the Woody Stephens at last year’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, Book’em Danno had Godolphin’s Nash some 16 lengths behind him down in ninth spot. An inmate of the Brad Cox, this four-year-old colt by Medaglia d’Oro never got involved after stumbling out of the gates.
On breeding, his dam won over the course and distance in Grade III company, so reinventing Nash a sprinter isn’t a bad shout from connections. He placed in the Pat Day Mile on Derby day last season behind subsequent Preakness hero Seize The Grey too and arrives off a couple of minor wins.
Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap 1-2-4 Back for More
Returning to the Spa for a defense of this crown is Qatar Racing and Fitri Hay’s Nakatomi. Now a six-year-old, this gelding by Firing Line hasn’t produced his length-and-a-half success over Skelly in subsequent starts. Nakatomi ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint behind Mullikin in the fall.
He was beaten by a similar margin in the True North, so has something to find with both Book’em Danno and his old rivals. That’s because Nakatomi received weight from Skelly in last season’s Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap. Off 5lb better term, Steve Asmussen probably fancies his chances of turning about the form as he seeks a fifth win in this race.
Skelly is also six now and the son of Practical Joke shaped poorly when last in the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs. Although a Listed winner around Oaklawn Park before that, his Breeders’ Cup 10th from the fall suggests some doubts about his ability in Graded company still exists.
Baby Yoda, who missed the show in this race last year, is the oldest in this line-up at seven. Bill Mott is no stranger to success here either, but his Prospective gelding meets the front two off worse terms with plenty of ground to make up on them both. He’s not among those favored by Belmont Stakes betting sites for this assignment.
Nakatomi is 2lb better off with Baby Yoda, but only managed fifth in the True North. Skelly meets that one on 3lb more favorable terms from last season, so it really does look an uphill battle for Baby Yoda, even off the back of a minor win around Aqueduct.
Full Moon Madness, Damon’s Mound Complete Line-Up
Mott also tries to revive the fortunes of 2022 Saratoga Special Stakes scorer Damon’s Mound. He missed all of 2024 off the track through injury, but won two Grade II sprint races for Michelle Lovell in his earlier career. Now a five-year-old, the son of Girvin seeks to make up for lost time in his new barn.
Running in the Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap of 2025 is aiming him high, however. This is because although Damon’s Mound won his return to action, he could only make the show in Listed company behind re-opposing rival Full Moon Madness from Delaware Park last month.
After just two starts for Mott, his new trainer has clearly taken great care. Connections of Damon’s Mound could well have targeted this race, given his past Saratoga performance, but Michelle Nevin has every right to feel Full Moon Madness has the beating of his fellow five-year-old.
This Into Mischief gelding is now better off at the weights with Damon’s Mound. Full Moon Madness should thus confirm Delaware form at Saratoga. Following that Listed success and earlier Grade III victory at Aqueduct, this is the next logical step, but these are the best bunch of sprinters faced by Nevin’s charge in his career so far.
Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap 2025 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Skelly (122lbs) – 4-1
- Full Moon Madness (122lbs) – 15-1
- Damon’s Mound (124lbs) – 15-1
- Mullikin (124lbs) – 7-2
- Book’em Danno (124lbs) – 5-2 fav
- Nash (120lbs) – 8-1
- Baby Yoda (124lbs) – 6-1
- Nakatomi (124lbs) – 9-2
Our Handicapper’s Verdict
Book’em Danno is the Saratoga form horse and should cope with 100m less to run than last time. Mullikin is the obvious one to again chase him home on his Breeders’ Cup performance, where he has the beating of most others sharing topweight.
Off the revised terms from last year’s race, it’d be no surprise if Skelly turned about the result with Nakatomi. The others have even more questions to answer, including if age is catching up with them, they have the class for this level and/or their ability remains after injury.
WATCH: Nakatomi Beat Skelly in the Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap of 2024
