Big Drama Impressive in Mr. Prospector

It won't be official until Monday evening in Miami Beach, Florida, but it's highly probable Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park was the beginning of BIG DRAMA's (Montbrook) title defense as the nation's leading male sprinter. Favored to be named the 2010 champion of the division at the Eclipse Awards ceremony 48 hours after the Mr. Prospector, Big Drama served notice he hasn't lost a step since the calendar turned with a track-record performance over Gulfstream's fast main track.

The Mr. Prospector developed into a two-horse race down the backside as the 1-2 Big Drama outran 2-1 second choice Custom for Carlos (More Than Ready) for early supremacy. Though Big Drama opened up 1 1/2 lengths in :22 and :44 2/5, the decision to allow Big Drama to have the lead might have been partly tactical as jockey Julien Leparoux, aboard Custom for Carlos, likely wanted to get off the rail with his mount in order to make a bid outside the favorite in the stretch.

A thrilling stretch duel appeared on tap as Custom for Carlos engaged Big Drama at the eighth pole, a head separating the two favorites. However, Big Drama repelled his rival fairly quickly and drew off with authority to win by four lengths. The final time for six furlongs was 1:08, two-fifths of a second faster than the track mark set back in 2006.

"I thought Custom for Carlos would run well today and when a horse of that quality makes a run at you, you have to be a little nervous," trainer David Fawkes said. "But he (Big Drama) showed how good he is. He wasn't even blowing when he came back."