Control Stake back at two turns for Big Drama

Control Stake will move back to two turns for the first time since last fall in Saturday night’s $75,000 Big Drama at Delta Downs. He should start as a strong favorite in a six-horse field that also includes the stakes-placed runners Nublado Bling and Sharon’s Boy.

The Big Drama, for 3-year-olds, will be run at seven furlongs. Every starter in the field has experience around two turns, including His World, who won his maiden over the configuration in a 6 1/2-furlong race Dec. 13 at Delta.

Control Stake has made one start around two turns, finishing second Oct. 25 in the $200,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta. The race was the local prep for the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot.

The Big Drama goes early on the card as the second race.

Key contenders

Control Stake (Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-74)

* He’s made two starts since the Jean Lafitte, winning a first-level allowance Dec. 4 at Fair Grounds and finishing third in the $50,000 Sugar Bowl at the same track Dec. 20.

* Control Stake owns one of the field’s best Beyer Speed Figures, an 85 for his allowance win Dec. 4. He set a strong pace and covered six furlongs in 1:10.60.

* Control Stake is the lone horse making a sprint-to-route move for the Big Drama, and as such, he is a candidate to wire the field. In his last start, he took his Sugar Bowl rivals through an opening half-mile in 44.60 seconds, and in the Jean Lafitte, he set the pace before being overtaken by the winner, Golden Actor.

* Gerard Melancon has the mount from post 3 for trainer Tom Amoss.

Nublado Bling (Last 3 Beyers: 69-71-89)

* He faced some of the better 2-year-olds in the region in September when second in the $75,000 Kip Deville at Remington Park. The Kip Deville winner, Bayerd, went on to capture the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington, while third-place finisher Shotgun Kowboy came back to win the $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington and run second in the Springboard Mile.

* Nublado Bling won his two-turn debut last out at Delta, where he overcame a slow start for a one-length score in a first-level allowance Dec. 13.

* Alfredo Contreras has the mount for trainer Eleuterio “Junior” Martinez.

Fusaichi Flame (Last 3 Beyers: 57-56-30)

* He won his maiden on turf, and two horses he defeated returned to win maiden races.