Big Drama much the best once again

MIAMI - Big Drama duplicated the performance he gave in the Dr. Fager Stakes three weeks earlier with a similarly easy 3 1/2-length triumph over Three Part Harmony in Saturday's $150,000 Affirmed Stakes, middle leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion series, on Saturday at Calder.

You Luckie Mann, the 6-5 favorite, finished a tiring third.

The Affirmed was the highlight of Calder's Juvenile Showcase, a 12-race program featuring all races for 2-year-olds.

As expected, You Luckie Mann went right to the front with Big Drama and jockey Paco Lopez stalking the favorite from the outset through fractions of 21.82 and 44.54 seconds. Big Drama ($5.20) engaged the leader on the turn, gradually edged away in early stretch, then steadily increased his advantage to the wire. Three Part Harmony was never a serious factor but passed the tiring You Luckie Mann in late stretch to be second best.

Big Drama, a homebred son of Montbrook owned by Harold Queen and trained by David Fawkes, completed seven furlongs in 1:24.71 over a fast track.

Big Drama can complete a sweep of his division of the Stallion Stakes in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality on Oct. 18.

"He got exactly the trip I hoped for sitting off Marty's horse," said Fawkes, referring to trainer Marty Wolfson's You Luckie Mann. "With his pedigree, I'm confident he'll go the distance. I'll train him up to the In Reality."

Maiden surprises in Susan's Girl

Aroma de Mujer ($31) entered the $150,000 Susan's Girl a maiden but exited a stakes winner after reasserting herself in deep stretch to post a game head decision over the 3-5 La Chica Sensual in the filly division of the Stallion Stakes.

Aroma de Mujer finished a distant third behind La Chica Sensual in the Desert Vixen Stakes three weeks earlier. Aroma de Mujer controlled the pace of the seven-furlong Susan's Girl but appeared to be beaten when passed by a pair of rivals, including La Chica Sensual, in early stretch only to re-rally along the rail under jockey Manny Aguilar and overtake the tiring favorite in the closing strides.

La Chica Sensual circled four wide, edged clear, and appeared on her way to victory at midstretch only to shorten stride in the shadow of the wire. Trippi's Greatstar finished another neck farther back in third.

Aroma de Mujer completed the distance in 1:26.38. She also gave trainer Walter Rosas-Canessa his first Stallion Series victory.

"At the eighth pole, I thought were were beat but I kept fighting even if for second place, then she started digging in as we inched closer to the favorite and overtook her at the wire," said winning rider Manny Aguilar.

In the other stakes on the program:

* This Ones For Phil bypassed an opportunity to run in the Affirmed, settling instead for an easy 4 1/2-length victory over the 4-5 March Twelfth in the $60,000 Seacliff Stakes. This Ones For Phil won despite clipping heels and steadying on the opening turn.

This Ones For Phil ($10), a gelded son of Untuttable trained by Kathleen O'Connell, ran a mile in 1:41.26 over a fast track. He is expected to return in the In Reality.

* Got Clearance got loose on the lead and was never headed en route to an easy 4 1/2-length triumph over Jungle Jill in the $60,000 Lindsay Frolic Stakes. R Brown Sugar finished a tiring fourth as the 3-2 favorite.

Got Clearance ($10.40) set a stakes record, covering a mile in 1:41.57 while giving apprentice Mayland Studart the first stakes victory of her riding career. A New York-bred daughter of Cryptoclearance, Got Clearance is trained by Michael Jablow.

* Code Runner ($15.80) made his turf debut a winning one, rallying to a one-length victory over the 9-5 favorite Silver Bayer in the $60,000 Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash. Little Richie finished a non-threatening third.

Code Runner, by freshman sire Omega Code, was ridden by Eduardo Nunez for Ocala-based trainer Robert Smith. He completed five furlongs in 58.05 seconds over a "good" turf course.

* My Sweet Natalie ($2.80) performed as expected in the $60,000 Catcharisingstar Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, leading throughout under leading rider Paco Lopez to post a 3 1/4-length decision over Master Tricky in the five-furlong turf sprint.

My Sweet Natalie, a daughter of Bring the Heat, is trained by Wesley Ward, who owns the California-bred in partnership with Raymond Feldman. Her final time of 57.48 was .57 of a second faster than males covered the same distance in the Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash.