Sheer Drama Works Toward Personal Ensign
Image:
Description:
Harold L. Queen's Sheer Drama, winner of the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) in her previous start for Gulfstream Park-based trainer David Fawkes, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.50 on Thursday, Aug. 20 in Hallandale in preparation for a scheduled start in the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course.
"It went well," Fawkes said. "No complaints. She's doing great."
The 5-year-old Burning Roma mare has had a breakout season in 2015, as she has not finished worse than second in six starts, all in stakes company, including five graded stakes, one of them her first grade I win July 18 at Delaware. The half sister to 2006 Eclipse Champion Big Drama has breezed twice since returning home to Gulfstream, also recording a 59.31 bullet move for five furlongs on Aug. 12.
Sheer Drama is scheduled to travel to Saratoga on Friday Aug. 21, as Fawkes ships his at-times nervous filly a week in advance of her races to give her ample time to settle in her new surroundings.
"She doesn't need her breezes right on top of her races," Fawkes said. "So what I've been doing is I've been (working her) about nine days out, and it seems to be working better. She'll gallop there, and she'll school a bunch in the paddock, and stuff like that."
"This is a (Breeders' Cup Challenge) 'Win and You're In' event," he added. "The goal is to get (to the Breeders' Cup) regardless, but a Win and You're In will always help us."