Royal Squeeze going for Big Drama repeat – but it won't be easy

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Royal Squeeze won the $100,000 Big Drama Stakes, despite traffic trouble, by 1 1/4 lengths over Garter and Tie here one year ago. But trainer Elizabeth Dobles is well aware that with the quality of horses still in town as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the 8-year-old veteran will be facing a far tougher assignment returning to defend that title Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Royal Squeeze is not only the oldest member of the Big Drama lineup, he’s also the most experienced and richest, with 42 starts and $564,637 in earnings. Claimed for $25,000 in February 2019, Royal Squeeze has several handicapping angles going for him on Saturday, including his nine victories over the local course, six wins at the seven-furlong distance of the race, and the fact he appears to be the lone speed and will likely find himself cruising on an easy lead.

“Obviously every race is a lot tougher here right now than it normally would be at this time of year because of all the Northern horsemen still here,” said Dobles. “Spring and summer is usually our best season, and while all our horses are running well, it’s hard to compete with these upper-class horses from the top stables who are still in town.”

Royal Squeeze wheels back on relatively short rest, having finished third after setting the early pace in a high-priced optional-claiming and allowance race on April 17. Edgard Zayas rides.

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“I hate running him back so quick, but there really isn’t anything else around for him,” said Dobles. “I think he needed the last race and I would have liked to have seen him go a little slower during the early stages. Hopefully Edgard will be able to get him settled a bit more this time.”

While Garter and Tie is back to challenge Royal Squeeze on Saturday, his toughest competition figures to come from the trio of Network Effect, Last Judgment, and He Hate Me, all of whom would likely have been long gone from the area had racing in Kentucky and New York continued as scheduled.

Network Effect, runner-up in both the Nashua and Remsen at 2, was lightly raced as a 3-year-old and will be meeting Florida-breds for the first time in the Big Drama. Network Effect, a winner of his only try at seven furlongs, finished a late-running second, beaten a half-length, going a mile against high-priced optional-claiming and allowance company in his local and 2020 debut on March 28.

Last Judgment was an impressive six-furlong allowance winner here on Feb. 7, but finished eighth when returning in the Sir Shackleton Stakes seven weeks later.

He Hate Me finished third after engaging the leaders through midstretch of the Sir Shackleton. He became graded stakes-placed a year ago by finishing third in the Grade 3 De Francis at Laurel Park.

Completing the field are With Verve, upset winner of the Hutcheson here on Feb. 25 and the only 3-year-old in the lineup; Red Crescent; and Noble Drama.