Big Drama to stand at Stonewall Farm for $10,000

MIAMI – Owner-breeder Harold Queen has sent his recently retired 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Eclipse Award champion Big Drama to the Stonewall Farm in Ocala, Fla., where he’ll begin his breeding career in 2012. Big Drama’s stud fee has been set at $10,000.

Queen announced Big Drama’s retirement less than 24 hours after his seventh-place finish in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Big Drama, a homebred son of Montbrook out of the Notebook mare Riveting Drama, ended his career with 11 wins from 19 starts and earnings of $2,746,060, much of which came from his 1 1/2-length victory in the 2010 Sprint. Big Drama also owns Gulfstream Park’s six furlong track record, set winning the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap earlier this year.

Big Drama was trained throughout his career by David Fawkes.

“I’ve already received a lot of inquiries about Big Drama, regarding his stallion status since we announced his retirement just a week ago,” said Queen, whose farm is located five miles from Stonewall. “He’s just been unbelievable for both Dave and I. Winning the Breeders’ Cup was fantastic. I just feel bad he didn’t run better in this year’s Sprint. I’m certain he’s going to have a great career as a stallion. I’ve already committed at least eight of my 12 broodmares to him for next season.”

Queen said he currently has a yearling half-sister to Big Drama by another of his up-and-coming stallion prospects, Burning Roma, that he’s already excited about. Big Drama’s dam, Riveting Drama, was voted Florida’s broodmare of the year in 2010. Burning Roma accompanied Big Drama to Stonewall on Tuesday and also will stand stud there for a fee of $3,000 in 2012.