Sheer Drama Returns to Work Tab

Sheer Drama, Harold Queen's multiple grade I-winning homebred, breezed for the first time this year Feb. 20 on the main track at Gulfstream Park in preparation for her 2016 campaign.

 

Regular exercise rider Jose Cruz was aboard the 6-year-old daughter of Burning Roma, who went three furlongs in :35.63 and galloped out a half-mile in :49 for trainer David Fawkes.

 

"She went excellent. She went a nice, easy, cruising three-eighths, and went out a half and did it well in hand," Fawkes said. "It was just easy as can be. No sweat at all."

 

Sheer Drama had not had a workout since prior to her last start, when she finished fourth from post 14, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Stopchargingmaria in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Oct. 30 at Keeneland. Saturday's time ranked fourth of 23 horses.

 

First or second in seven of eight starts last year, including wins in the Personal Ensign (gr. I), Delaware Handicap (gr. I), and Royal Delta (gr. II) with earnings of $1,234,720, she was given time off at Queen's farm in Ocala, Fla. before rejoining Fawkes' string at Gulfstream Jan. 29.

 

"These horses that have been running and are coming off a layoff like that—a three-month layoff—they don't need a whole string of 12, 15 works," Fawkes said. "They get fit fast and they retain a lot of that fitness from being in the field and things like that."

 

Fawkes has no set plan for Sheer Drama's first start but the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 15 at Oaklawn Park and La Troienne (gr. I) May 6 at Churchill Downs are among the races being considered.

 

"Her coat is good and her weight is really good. Harold did a great job of putting a bunch of weight on her when she went home," Fawkes said. "And she likes her new two-stall condo there, too, with a window. She really likes that corner. She was right by the office last year, but this year she's a little more active in the stall and I went ahead and moved her and she just loves it over there."