Big Drama |
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Prep Recap
| Date | Trk | Race | Chart | Distance | Time | BSF | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/28/09 | GP | Swale | Chart | 7 fur. | 1:20.88 | 108 |  |
Profile by Byron King
Strengths: He is fast and fresh. Although disqualified and placed second for interference in the Grade 2 Swale at Gulfstream on March 28, he crossed the wire first, earning a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, which matches the Kentucky Oaks-winning figure of Rachel Alexandra and exceeds the 105 that Mine That Bird earned in winning the Derby. His final time for seven furlongs was a track-record 1:20.88. Not having raced for more than 1 1/2 months, he is unlikely to bounce. He is not purely a sprinter, either. Last year as a juvenile he won the In Reality and the Delta Jackpot at 1 1/16 miles, coming from just off the pace. A naturally speedy colt, he can win on the lead or from just off the pace.
Weaknesses: He lacks a two-turn prep as a 3-year-old, and has never raced beyond 1 1/16 miles. This means he will be racing a furlong farther than he ever has in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. Class handicappers will also view him with skepticism. He has never raced in a Grade 1 race, and the company he has kept in racking up a 5-for-7 record is much softer than others in the field. He is also a horse without the foundation of others in the field, having raced just once as a 3-year-old. This was in part due to kicking himself in his stall in January, and suffering a bone bruise on his shin, which required surgery and put him too far behind schedule to pursue the Kentucky Derby.
Strategy: He has the speed to be an immediate factor, but can be rated a length or two off the pace if necessary. It is from a pressing/stalking position that he won his two routes. That versatility and tactical speed should ensure a favorable trip under jockey John Velazquez.
Value: Considering the class test he faces in the Preakness, unlike anything he has ever experienced, bettors should demand value. He needs to be every bit of 8-1 to warrant support.
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Owners: Harold L Queen |
Pedigree Analysis by Dan Illman
Dosage Profile: 5-5-7-0-1
Dosage Index: 3.00
Center of Distribution: 0.72
Auction: Homebred
Sire: Montbrook was an excellent sprinter, winning five of eight starts as a three-year-old of 1993. He won a pair of Grade 3 races including the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash with a 112 Beyer Speed Figure in his final start. Montbrook only raced once at route distances, finishing fourth in the one-turn Withers Stakes at a mile.
The Montbrook - Notebook 'nick' has produced Outofthebox, the winner of the Grade 1 Super Derby at 1 1/4 miles.
Dam: Riveting Drama, a $22,000 yearling resold for $36,000 as a juvenile, was unraced. She has already foaled the undefeated stakes-winning sprinter Drama's Way as well as Coffee Can, a stakes-placed performer at 1 1/16 miles.
Outlook: A multiple stakes-winner at 1 1/16 miles as a juvenile, Big Drama was plagued by nagging foot issues that delayed his three-year-old debut until the Swale Stakes on March 28. He is quick from the gate, but this distance could prove arduous in only his second start of the year.