G1 Winner Book’em Danno Stalks and Scores Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs

New Kent, Va (March 14, 2025) – Virginia Derby week stakes action began on Friday at Colonial Downs with two Virginia-restricted overnight handicaps, and Atlantic Six Racing’s millionaire Book’em Danno stole the show, starting off his 4-year-old campaign with a win in the $150,000 Boston Handicap.

Trained by Derek Ryan and piloted by Paco Lopez, Book’em Danno stalked Celtic Contender through quick opening fractions and proved best of the trio of older males, pulling away at the sixteenth pole to win by 2 1/2 lengths over the late-charging Repo Rocks. Book’em Danno covered the seven furlongs in 1:20.03, just a touch slower than the 1:19.86 track record set by Mufasa last year.

With his win in the Boston, the Woody Stephens (G1) winner now sports six stakes scores on his resume. From 12 lifetime races, the New Jersey-bred has won 7 with 3 seconds and 1 third to tally $1,038,125

With no show betting, post-time favorite Book’em Danno paid $2.60 and $2.10.

In the Stellar Win Handicap Sheilahs Warcloud pulled off the minor upset over seven older fillies and mares. Owned and trained by Justin Nixon, the Maryland-bred who broke her maiden locally relished the long stretch, running down the top two choices in the betting to win by a neck over Mary Q. Post-time favorite Binnie hung on for third.

Weston Hamilton was in the irons as Sheilahs Warcloud covered the six furlongs in 1:09.14 and paid $9.20, $4.60, and $2.60. Making her 4-year-old return to the races in the Stellar Wind, Sheilah’s Warcloud improved her career record to 11-4-5-1 and now sports $266,780 in career earnings.

The special three-day meet at Colonial Downs concludes on Saturday with the 1 1/8 miles $500,000 Virginia Derby, the first ever Kentucky points race to be held at the track. Scheduled as Race 9, the Virginia Derby will be preceded by the 1 1/16-miles Virginia Oaks. The winning horse in each race will receive 50 points toward the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) or Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively. The second- through fifth-place finishers will earn 25-15-10-5 points.

First post for Saturday’s 10-race program is slated for noon ET.

Colonial Downs’ expanded 2025 racing season will continue with 41 days of live racing each Wednesday through Saturday from July 9 through September 13.