A third clash of the Saratoga summer meet between Book’em Danno and Mullikin happens in the $500,000 Grade I Forego Stakes on Saturday, August 23 just before the Travers. These two faced off over 1,300m and 1,200m in the True North Stakes and Vanderbilt Handicap, but will the result be the same in this 1,400m assignment?
Derek Ryan’s Book’em Danno just loves here in Upstate New York. After bravely holding on in last season’s Woody Stephens Stakes over course and distance, this four-year-old Bucchero gelding then made the show in the H Allen Jerkens Memorial on this card. The head-to-head record against Mullikin reads 3-1 in favor of Book’em Danno.
He has finished ahead of his rival off level terms on all three starts in 2025. Does Book’em Danno have Mullikin’s number? It sure looks that way after clear cut victories in Saratoga sprint races. In fact, the only time Rodolphe Brisset’s 2024 Forego Stakes hero has beaten this foe was in the Cigar Mile at the end of the last campaign.
Over an intermediate distance of 1,400m, which horse will emerge victorious? Oddsmakers behind Belmont Stakes racebooks favor Book’em Danno based on recent runs at the Spa. Mullikin finished closer to the younger horse in the True North than the Vanderbilt, so we can deduce the longer the trip the better it suits him.
The five-year-old son of Violence might actually be shrewd handicappers’ choice for mounting a successful defense of his crown. Whoever emerges from the latest chapter of this rivalry can look forward to a prominent place in the futures market for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, in which Mullikin made the show last fall, at Del Mar come November 1.
Cox Pair Also Favored for Breakthrough Win
Outside the leading Forego Stakes contenders, the Brad Cox barn appears to have the next best hand. He runs two, seeking a first-ever win in the race. Both barn buddies have post positions next to each other in Gates 1 and 2. Most Wanted made headlines when landing the Oklahoma Derby in the fall .
This four-year-old Candy Ride colt has since placed in two Churchill Downs Grade II events at 1,800m and 1,700m before landing a minor mile race at the home of the Kentucky Derby. Dropping down in distance asks a new question of him with his best performances over further.
Cox’s other runner Bishops Bay is an in-form horse heading to Saratoga off the back of four consecutive victories. The five-year-old son of Uncle Mo added a second Grade III to his resume when romping home at Monmouth Park over a mile last time. He posted some good speed figures too, so tackling this shorter trip might just work.
Bettors shouldn’t forget about True North third Crazy Mason for the Forego Stakes either. Gregory Sacco’s four-year-old Coal Front colt meets the front two again off the same terms, but crossed the wire in no danger of missing out on the show. If anything, he was gaining slightly and the extra 100m should suit, given he landed the Grade II Carter Stakes at Aqueduct prior to that.
Of the longshots in the line-up, and there are plenty of those, Scotland has the best form. Like lots of hopefuls against the big guns, Bill Mott’s five-year-old Good Magic gelding boasts some minor wins at the Spa including the 2023 Curlin Stakes. Steve Asmussen has three wins in this since 2019, but his Grade III Commonwealth Stakes scorer Extra Anejo has plenty to find with Book’em Danno and Mullikin.
Forego Stakes 2025 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Most Wanted (120lbs) – 5-1
- Bishops Bay (122lbs) – 6-1
- Full Moon Madness (122lbs) – 20-1
- Book’em Danno (124lbs) – 8-5 fav
- Extra Anejo (122lbs) – 20-1
- Crazy Mason (120lbs) – 10-1
- Mullikin (124lbs) – 7-2
- Scotland (120lbs) – 12-1
- Over And Ollie (120lbs) – 30-1
- Hold My Bourbon (120lbs) – 30-1
- Doc Sullivan (120lbs) – 20-1
Our Handicapper’s Verdict
Half the field are longshots and need massive career bests just to get into the show. If there is an occasion where Book’em Danno looks vulnerable, then it’s now. Although he won the Woody Stephens over this course and distance last season, he couldn’t build on it in the H Allen Jerkens Memorial and all his other best form is over proper sprint distances.
Mullikin won’t go down without a fight in defending his crown and this trip is ideal for him. It could also see True North third Crazy Mason to better effect too and he could well make the show once more after again shaping like further would be better in the Bing Crosby. Bishops Bay looks the pick of the Cox pair, meanwhile.
WATCH: Mullikin Win the Forego Stakes in 2024
