Sheer Drama at her ‘Personal’ Best With Second GI Win

Benefitting from a dream set-up, GI Delaware H. heroine Sheer Drama annexed her second straight win at the highest level in style in Saratoga’s GI Personal Ensign S.

Placed in a perfect tracking spot in third by Joe Bravo as Untapable and Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) locked horns through fractions of :24.06 and :47.72, Sheer Drama began to wind up on the far turn. The Harold Queen homebred rolled up three deep at the head of the lane and kicked clear late after several right-handed reminders to punch her ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“Joe [Bravo] rode a perfect race, which I asked him to do,” trainer David Fawkes said. “I told him that most likely those two horses [Stopchargingmaria and Untapable] would go and to please sit behind them. It couldn’t have gone any better. When I saw that neither of the other two was getting away from the other, it made me really comfortable. I loved the fact they were doing all of the work and that’s how I hoped it would go. The stretch drive didn’t make me nervous because I know how she is. She’s kind of a grinder. When I saw where she was at the quarter-pole, I was really happy.”

Fawkes continued, “I was happy as soon as they broke. It worked out perfectly. She’s getting better as she’s getting older. She’s maturing. She does everything right. We got our “Win and You’re In,” and hopefully, we’re on our way to Keeneland now. Do I hope Beholder goes against the boys [in the $5 million Classic]? Absolutely. But If I’ve got to [beat] her too, I’ll do it.”

Sheer Drama continues to reach new heights since turning five. A runner-up in Gulfstream’s Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff S. Jan. 17 and GIII Rampart S. Feb. 21, the chestnut broke through with a runaway win in the GII Royal Delta S. in Hallandale Mar. 21. She ran well in defeat when second-best at Churchill in the GI La Troienne S. May 1 and GII Fleur de Lis H. June 13 prior to her two-length tally in the First State.

“I tell you, it’s nice when you’re able to win for a friend,” Bravo said. “David [Fawkes] and I have been friends for a long time, but when you have a special horse, it’s pretty cool. This horse has just really been stepping up and getting better and better. Today was a true test for her. I mean, the best fillies in the country were here against us, this is Saratoga Race Track and wow, you couldn’t have scripted it any better before the race. I’m just thankful to be a part of the team, to be honest.”

Sheer Drama’s unraced dam Riveting Drama (Notebook) was purchased by Queen for $36,000 as an OBSMAR 2-year-old purchase in 1996. In addition to champion sprinter Big Drama (Montbook), she has also produced stakes winners Drama’s Way (Farma Way); Little Drama (Burning Roma); and Queen Drama (Burning Roma). She produced a Chapel Royal filly in 2012 and was bred to Gone Astray this spring.

Saturday, Saratoga
PERSONAL ENSIGN S.-GI, $717,500, SAR, 8-29, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49.05, ft.
1–SHEER DRAMA, 121, m, 5, by Burning Roma
1st Dam: Riveting Drama, by Notebook
2nd Dam: Special Token, by Hyperborean
3rd Dam: Accept My Token, by Accipiter
O-Harold L Queen (FL); T-David Fawkes; J-Joe Bravo. $400,000. Lifetime Record: 19-6-8-1, $1,318,840. *1/2 to Big Drama (Montbrook), Ch. Sprinter, GISW, $2,746,060; full to Little Drama, MSW & MGSP, $359,299; and Queen Drama, SW, $127,225. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Got Lucky, 119, f, 4, A.P. Indy–Malka, by Deputy Minister. O/B-Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc (J G Sikura) & Philip J Steinberg (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $140,000.
[bullet ad=”hillndale-foaled-raised”] 3–Untapable, 123, f, 4, Tapit–Fun House, by Prized. O-Ron Winchell; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $75,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.40, 6.40, 2.00.
Also Ran: Stopchargingmaria, America, Tiz Windy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.