Big Drama's rush to racing prominence was slowed by a shin bruise, nearly a four-month layoff and a crowded Kentucky Derby field.
Although late to the Triple Crown scene, Big Drama became the first Preakness Stakes horse to arrive at Pimlico Race Course for the second leg of the series on May 16. When he checked into Stall 10 Wednesday after a 18-hour trip from Davie, Fla., he was the only horse in the Preakness barn.
Not that it mattered to him. After a short nap, the 3-year-old bounced around his stall, straw scattered across his head. He declined an organic apple, posed for photographers and occasionally bumped into the barn framework.
"We had a van ready to take him to Texas [for the Lone Star Derby] and one to bring him here," said Celia Fawkes, assistant trainer to and wife of trainer David Fawkes. "After his breeze, we decided to come here."
Monday, when Big Drama breezed six furlongs in 1 minute, 14 seconds at his home base of Calder Race Course, the Fawkeses' itinerary was clear. The $1 million Preakness beckoned.
"This race is one we've been aiming toward," Celia Fawkes said.
Of the four shooters already committed to the Preakness - Hull, Take the Points and Terrain are the others - Big Drama offers the most intrigue. He swept Calder's three-race Florida Stallion series in 2008 as a 2-year-old and was among the early favorites for this year's Kentucky Derby.
But Big Drama skipped the Derby after an injury and the long-term projection of breeder/owner Harold Queen.
"The owner really wants to see this horse run as an older horse and have longevity to him," Celia said. "It was probably the safer route."
Last January, Big Drama suffered a self-inflicted shin bruise that required minor surgery. On March 28, almost four months later, Big Drama shattered the Gulfstream Park record for seven furlongs, going 1:20.88 in the Grade II Swale Stakes, in his return.
But jockey Eibar Coa twice bumped This Ones for Phil down the stretch - the second time at the wire when his whip got tangled with the bridle - and was disqualified to second place. This Ones for Phil never had the lead, but got the victory and credit for Big Drama's record.
That ended a streak of five consecutive wins for Big Drama, son of Montbrook. David Fawkes says the only time Big Drama really lost was in his July 2008 debut because of rider error. "First time out of the box, [Pedro Monterrey Jr.] let him go too fast, too early and gets caught," said Fawkes, who won't join Big Drama in Baltimore until the weekend.
