Tribal Drama, Ballet Diva Win FL 2YO Stakes
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Tribal Drama and Ballet Diva won divisions of the Florida Sires Stakes for the offspring of Florida-nominated sires Sept. 5 at Gulfstream Park.
Ballet Diva gave Jacks or Better Farms and trainer Stanley Gold a record 17th victory in the series when landing the $300,000 Susan's Girl division for fillies , and those connections were narrowly denied an 18th win when Hallmarc Racing's Tribal Drama defeated their 17-1 longshot Abercorn by a neck in the $300,000 Affirmed division for males.
Tribal Drama is perfect in two starts for trainer David Fawkes following his 5 3/4-length debut win Aug. 2 at Gulfstream.
"We knew right away (that he was going to be a nice colt)," Fawkes said of the runner, who became the first stakes winner for 2010 champion sprinter and freshman sire Big Drama, who swept the Florida series in 2008. "He showed talent right from the beginning."
Tribal Drama debuted too late to participate in the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series, the Aug. 8 Dr. Fager division, won by Dream of Me.
Ridden by Eddie Castro, who notched four victories Saturday, Tribal Drama stalked the early pace set along the backstretch set by 2-1 favorite Dream of Me, then moved alongside that rival on the turn. The 3-1 second choice, Tribal Drama was set down for the drive at the top of the stretch. Dream of Me fought back gamely, but Tribal Drama edged always to take a clear lead in midstretch and just held off the determined run from Abercorn.
Tribal Drama ($8.20), the first starter for the winning A. P. Warrior mare Tribal Music, ran seven furlongs on a sloppy surface in 1:25.61.
The third leg of the Florida Sire Stakes for males, the 1 1/16-mile $500,000 In Reality division, is set for Oct. 3 at Gulfstream.
"We'll sit and wait and decide whether we want to go two turns," Fawkes said. "Most likely."
Ballet Diva led stablemate Silent Prayer in a one-two finish for Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Gold in the Susan's Girl.
Entering off a third in the series' first division for fillies, the Aug. 8 Desert Vixen, the homebred daughter of Hear No Evil picked up her third win from four starts this year after taking command along the rail soon after the start.
Desert Vixen winner It's High Time pursued from third, then moved into second in the far turn, looked to pressure the leader into the stretch before Ballet Diva galloped on comfortably. Silent Prayer advanced from seventh to rally, closing ground with plenty of energy to get past It's High Time in the final furlong as Ballet Diva crossed the finish line unchallenged, winning by one length.
Ballet Diva ($5.40) finished in 1:26.12 with Jose Caraballo aboard.
It's High Time, who defeated Silent Prayer in the Desert Vixen, finished 2 3/4 lengths back in third.
Gold said Cassidy Stakes victress Ballet Diva showed her grit in adding a second stakes win to her record.
"She put away the ones that were pushing her and had enough to hold off (Silent Prayer)," Gold said of the diminutive filly, who was produced by the Nureyev mare Dame Sylvieguilhem, also the dam of stakes winner Flying Trip.
The final leg of the Florida Sire Stakes filly series, the $500,000 My Dear Girl division at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 3, remains the next goal for Ballet Diva.