Sheer Drama Picks Up Sprinting Grade I

Already a two-time grade I winner in route races, Sheer Drama opened her 6-year-old season with a top-level win sprinting in the Madison Stakes (gr. I) April 9 at Keeneland.

Harold Queen's homebred daughter of Burning Roma under Joe Bravo outdueled Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Stopchargingmaria in the stretch to prevail by a neck.

Both Sheer Drama and Stopchargingmaria were making their first starts since the 1 1/8-mile Distaff, where Sheer Drama finished fourth. Trained by David Fawkes, Sheer Drama's Distaff effort followed victories in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) at Delaware Park and the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.

"I talked to (Keeneland Racing Secretary) Ben (Huffman) about this race early in the year, and thought it might be a good starting spot," Fawkes said. "I never expected it to come up this tough. But she ran her race; she brought her A game. She worked so good last week, I thought she could do anything (in this race)."

Sheer Drama and Stopchargingmaria were just a head apart, racing fifth and sixth respectively, through a half-mile registered in :44.86 by Enchanting Lady. Sheer Drama fanned into the five path at the quarter pole but maintained her drive into the stretch. Still, Stopchargingmaria and Javier Castellano, racing outside of Sheer Drama, put a head in front at the 16th pole.

But Sheer Drama battled back inside to prevail, completing the seven furlongs in 1:22.07. Noting the deep field, Sheer Drama's effort impressed Bravo.

"Dave (Fawkes) and I spent all week looking at it and saying, 'Wow. These are some of the best fillies in the country.' What she did today, you gotta just love her," Bravos said. "She has so much heart. (Stopchargingmaria) came to us at the top of the lane, and she passed us. (When a horse trained by) Todd (Pletcher) goes by you, you think, 'Oh right.' But Sheer Drama said, 'None of that.' She gutted it out and outran her down the lane." 

Sheer Drama paid $18.80, $8, and $4.60 across the board while Stopchargingmaria paid $4.20 and $2.80 for the minor awards. Last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Wavell Avenue was two lengths back in third and returned $4 to show.

Castellano said being a path outside of the winner throughout the race didn't help Stopchargingmaria, who started from post 12.

"The outside post didn't help her much, and I had to go wide a little bit," Castellano said. "That might have cost me the race but it's something you just gotta deal with. You have to go through it and hope for much the best. She ran such a good race. I'm not disappointed at all. I'm so happy and satisfied with what she did today. Just second-best today." 

Sheer Drama is out of the highly successful broodmare Riveting Drama, by Notebook, who also has produced Queen's champion sprinter Big Drama   and three other stakes winners. She has produced nine winners from as many starters.