Multiple Grade 1 Winner Sheer Drama Returns to Work Tab, Eyes Apple Blossom

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Harold Queen’s multiple Grade 1-winning homebred Sheer Drama breezed for the first time this year Saturday morning over the main track at Gulfstream Park in preparation for her 2016 campaign.

Regular exercise rider Jose Cruz was aboard the 6-year-old chestnut daughter of Burning Roma, who went three furlongs in 35.63 seconds and galloped out a half-mile in 49 seconds 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 work since prior to her last start, when she was fourth from post 14, beaten 4 ½ lengths by Stopchargingmaria in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) 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 (G1), Delaware Handicap (G1) and Royal Delta (G2) with earnings of $1,234,720, she was given time off at Queen’s farm in Ocala 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 (G1) April 15 and La Troienne (G1) May 6 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,” he 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.”

Grade 3 Winner Daring Kathy Has Final Breeze for $100,000 Sand Springs
John Eaton and Steve Laymon’s Florida homebred Daring Kathy worked five furlongs in 1:00.85 for her next scheduled start in the $100,000 Sand Springs Feb. 27.

The one-mile Sand Springs is one of seven supporting stakes, four of them graded, on the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) program at Gulfstream.

A 5-year-old bay daughter of Wildcat Heir, Daring Kathy has had a steady string of works at Gulfstream for her first start since chasing the pace and finishing ninth in the De La Rose Stakes Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course. Her time Saturday ranked eighth of 41 horses.

“She went excellent. She went in a minute and I don’t know what they caught her out in but I was really happy with her,” Fawkes said. “She’s doing really good.”

Moved to trainer Chad Brown last year, Daring Kathy made only two starts in 2015 including a win in the Perfect Sting Stakes in July at Belmont Park before being returned to Fawkes.

Daring Kathy won six of nine starts for Fawkes, four of them in stakes, highlighted by the 2014 My Charmer Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park West. She is undefeated in four career starts at Gulfstream Park, with wins in the Starfish Bay and Honey Ryder stakes.

“It’ll be her first start back for me,” Fawkes said. “She’s doing really good. She put some weight on. They gave her some time off with Niall Brennan and she worked really good this morning. I’m very happy with her. No complaints at all. This will be a good starting point for her.”

Luis Saez will ride Daring Kathy in the Sand Springs, which is also expected to attract Argentinean Group 1 winner Sweetie Girl, Grade 3-placed A Little Bit Sassy and Hope Cross, recent Gulfstream allowance winners Nisharora and Sawyer.

Source: Gulfstream Park