Big Drama Boosts Preakness Fever From Gate One
Fawkes Trained Colt Won Four Stakes At Two, Recovered From Injury
May 14, 2009
If a computer were asked to produce the name of a best named horse for the 2009 Preakness Stakes, it surely would spit out Big Drama. This season's Preakness, if nothing else, has had a dramatic pre-race buildup.
The Big Drama Preakness
There is already a grandstand full of feverish anticipation for the race, and Big Drama returns recovered from an injury and coming off his disqualification to second place in the March 28 Swale Stakes.
Can Mine That Bird repeat his stunning Kentucky Derby performance and take the second jewel of the Triple Crown? Many think a filly named Rachel Alexandra will wear the black-eyed susans this year.
Friesan Fire fans are hoping for a rally from the Larry Jones colt who got clipped in the Kentucky Derby and couldn't compete at his best level. Or could Hall of Fame electee Bob Baffert win his fourth Derby title with Derby placed Pioneerof The Nile?
Big Drama Short Pedigree
Big Drama is a dark bay , or brown colt out of Riveting Drama, by Notebook--Special Token. His sire is Montbrook, a sire of ninety winners who collectively have raked in $3.5 million.
Montbrook was sired by Buckaroo--Secret Papers. Buckaroo's sire was Buckpasser, by Tom Fool--Busanda. Busanda's parentage was 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral--Businesslike. Tom Fool was sired by Menow--Gaga.
Buckpasser's mate was Stepping High, by No Robbery--Bebop. Swaps sired No Robbery.
Notebook was sired by Well Decorated, who traces to Bold Ruler and Majestic Prince.
Special Token's sire and dam were Hyperborean and Accept My Token, respectively. Hyperborean links to Icecapade and Nearctic.
Big Drama is a Florida homebred owned and bred by Harold L. Queen.
Big Drama Could Lead Preakness Field
Big Drama's speed could serve him well in a modestly paced Preakness, with Todd Pletcher-trained Take the Points also out front. If rain keeps the Pimlico track a little slow, Big Drama could be in good position to win, as he breaks from Gate 1 and could sustain a lead.
Filly Rachel Alexandra will have the long haul to reach the wire when she breaks from the last spot, Gate 13. What will likely help the lone female entrant is the hands of her loyal jockey, Calvin Borel.
Borel chose to stay on the lady for a sixth trip when she was supplemented to the Preakness field, rather than remain aboard Mine That Bird, the colt who on May 2 gave Borel his second Derby win in three years.
Can Rachel Alexandra Prevail in Preakness?
To negate Lady Rachel's outside post start, will Borel use his go-to-the-rail finesse from the beginning and guide the filly to the fence from the back of the pack, as he did Mine That Bird? Or will he let the filly cruise close to the lead in her normal racing style?
Come what may on Saturday, Big Drama will get his chance to join his three-year-old classmates on the big stage of the 134th Preakness Stakes.
