Wherever Book’em Danno eventually fits in the annals of the best Jersey-bred horses of all time, he will soon be able to claim a distinction that none of the others can: A day in his honor at Monmouth Park that includes a showcase race for him.

Monmouth Park has officially designated Friday, July 17, as Book’em Danno Day, with the multiple Grade 1 winner and 2025 Eclipse Award winner as Champion Male Sprinter scheduled to race in the six-furlong Mr.  Prospector Stakes that day.

Under the conditions of the race, the $100,000 purse for the Mr. Prospector doubles to $200,000 if a multiple Grade 1 winner starts in the race.

In addition, Monmouth Park will have a special Book’em Danno T-shirt giveaway to the first 2,000 paid admissions that day.

“We’re pleased to be able to give our fans this unique opportunity to see one of the greatest New Jersey-breds of all-time while he is still in his prime and racing,” said John F. Heims, Monmouth Park’s general manager. “This is where it all started for Book’em Danno so it’s kind of a full-circle moment for him and us.”

Bred by Gregory J. Kilka and Bright View Farm, the 5-year-old gelded son of Bucchero is 11-for-18 lifetime, having captured five graded stakes and 10 stakes overall since winning on debut at Monmouth Park on Aug. 12, 2023.

He followed that up by winning the Smoke Glacken Stakes four weeks later and won the 2024 edition of the Jersey Shore Stakes in his only other appearance at Monmouth Park.

Since then he has become the all-time leader among state-breds with $2,135,425 in earnings, winning the Grade 1 Woody Stephens in 2024 and the Grade 1 Forego last year. He has been named New Jersey Thoroughbred of the Year three times.

Trained by Derek Ryan and owned by Monmouth County-based Atlantic Six Racing, Book’em Danno is coming off a gutsy win in the Grade 3 True North at Saratoga on June 6.

His accomplishments have earned him a place in the conversation with past New Jersey-bred greats such as Regret, the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby (in 1915), and Open Mind, a two-time Eclipse champion who won the 1989 Filly Triple Crown. Regret and Open Mind are both in the Racing Hall of Fame.

The day will include free admission for Oceanport residents as well.