Leaving Thursday for Kentucky

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Harold Queen’s multiple Grade 1 winner Sheer Drama breezed a sharp five furlongs over Gulfstream Park’s main track on Wednesday, the final work before her next scheduled start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) October 30.

The 5-year-old mare, a half-sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Big Drama, was clocked in 58.88 seconds, the fastest of 11 horses. It was her fourth timed work since earning an all-fees-paid trip to Keeneland for the Distaff by virtue of her victory in the Personal Ensign (G1) August 28 at Saratoga.



“She went excellent. She did it well and galloped out good. She’s fit. She came back today, and she wasn’t even blowing. It was like she didn’t even do anything. She drank water, which is good, but she wasn’t huffing and puffing by any means,” trainer David Fawkes said. “She’s doing pretty darn good right now. I hope she stays this good. Now we have to get to the next step and get her in the paddock.”

Sheer Drama was one of 16 fillies and mares pre-entered for the 1 1/8-mile Distaff, being contested for the first time at Keeneland Race Course. Fawkes plans to leave Gulfstream Thursday evening for the 15-hour drive to Lexington, Ky.

“Once she gets there, she’ll have her regular training routine. She likes to go out early, so she’ll go out early. Whatever she needs,” Fawkes said. “She doesn’t need to train hard, just get over the track and let her see the surroundings. We’ll school in the paddock a lot, just walk through it and let her stand a little bit; that we’ll do almost every day.”

This will be the fourth trip to the Breeders’ Cup since 2010 for Fawkes, who won in his debut with Big Drama. He was also sixth and seventh, respectively, with Apriority and Big Drama in the 2011 Sprint, and sixth with Bahamian Squall in the 2013 Sprint.

Florida-bred Sheer Drama has finished first or second in all seven starts this year, including victories in the Personal Ensign, Delaware Handicap (G1) and Royal Delta (G2), the latter at Gulfstream Park.

“You’ve got to bring 110 percent. The guys that are there, they’re good horse trainers,” he said. “Every single one of them, and they all know how to win. Whenever you bring big money, you better bring your big horse. It would be great [to win], absolutely; just wonderful.”