Calder: Big Drama rounding back into top form

MIAMI – Slowly but surely, Big Drama is starting to look like his old self again, which means he’s starting to look like the horse who won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, an Eclipse Award, and set a track record at Gulfstream Park in his 2011 debut.

Working for the first time since winning the Whippleton Stakes here 13 days earlier, Big Drama breezed an easy half-mile in 48.76 seconds over a fast but dry racetrack under jockey Daniel Centeno shortly after the renovation break Saturday. Big Drama posted internal splits of 12.32, 24.20, and 36.37 while well in hand before galloping out a strong five-eighths in 1:01.30. The gallop-out time would have been the bullet at the distance on Saturday’s tab.

“I just wanted to give him an easy half-mile,” trainer David Fawkes said by phone from Charles Town, where he was to saddle Hot Summer later that evening in the Charles Town Oaks. “The rider said everything went perfect and that he galloped out super.”

Fawkes said Big Drama would have one more work prior to shipping to New York for his next major objective, the Grade 1 Vosburgh on Oct. 1.

“I might bring him back for a sharp half-mile next week and then let him gallop out a strong five-eighths again,” Fawkes said. “He’s pretty fit, so I don’t think I need to do much more than that.”

Fawkes said Big Drama is currently scheduled to be accompanied on the flight to New York by Smile Handicap winner Giant Ryan, trained by Bisnath Parboo, who also is pointing to the Vosburgh.

Big Drama is one of two horses that Fawkes is planning to run in the Vosburgh along with Apriority, who is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

“I thought Apriority ran a huge race in the Vanderbilt, especially considering he tore a shoe off somewhere along the way,” Fawkes said. “Big Drama also lost his left front shoe leaving the gate in his last start.”

Fawkes said Apriority was scheduled to work at Belmont on Sunday.

Imawildandcrazyguy retired

Trainer Bill Kaplan said Saturday that Imawildandcrazyguy has been retired and will depart Sunday for his new life as a show jumper at Mary Winds Farm in New Jersey. Imawildandcrazyguy, 7, was a stakes winner of nearly $670,000 for Kaplan and owners Lewis Pell and Michael Eigner. He had his finest moments at 3 when finishing second in the Grade 2 Risen Star and sixth later that spring in the Kentucky Derby.

Kaplan also reported that Musical Romance, winner of the Grade 2 Masters last Saturday at Presque Isle Downs, is at Churchill Downs, where she’ll prepare for her next start in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on Oct. 8.

“I couldn’t get her into Keeneland right away because of the sales, so I’ll probably just keep her at Churchill, work her there then move her over a few days before the race to gallop over the track,” said Kaplan who is a part owner in Musical Romance.

“We’d have to supplement her at a cost of $100,000 if we want to run in the Breeders’ Cup, but the race at Keeneland is a Win and You’re In, which would pay some of our expenses,” Kaplan said. “So if we were lucky enough to win that one, we’d probably have to at least consider keeping her up there for the Breeders’ Cup.”