Sheer Drama Outduels Stopchargingmaria in Madison

Harold Queen’s homebred Sheer Drama outdueled favored Stopchargingmaria by a neck to win the 15th running of the $300,000 Madison (G1) for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon, the first of three Grade 1 races on the 11-race Keeneland program.

Trained by David Fawkes and ridden by Joe Bravo, Sheer Drama covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:22.07.

Sunday Rules and Enchanting Lady set a contested pace with Fioretti Lady and Super Majesty in close pursuit through fractions of :22.42 and :44.86. Stopchargingmaria was in the clear on the outside just in back of the leaders while Sheer Drama was getting a ground-saving trip to the inside of Stopchargingmaria.

The top four positions did not change until the field turned for home as Stopchargingmaria moved to the leaders five wide and was soon joined by Sheer Drama, who slipped between Enchanting Lady and Stopchargingmaria.

The two mares drew clear of the field with Stopchargingmaria taking the lead at midstretch but unable to hold off a final surge from Sheer Drama. It was the first race of 2016 for both mares since last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) that was won by Stopchargingmaria with Sheer Drama fourth.

Sheer Drama is a 6-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Burning Roma out of the Notebook mare Riveting Drama. It was the third Grade 1 victory for Sheer Drama, who improved her record to 21-7-8-1 with earnings of $1,618,840. Saturday’s victory was worth $180,000.

Sheer Drama returned $18.80, $8 and $4.60. Stopchargingmaria, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $4.20 and $2.80 with Wavell Avenue, ridden by Julien Leparoux, finishing another two lengths back in third and returning $4 to show.

Birdatthewire finished another length back in fourth and was followed in order by Enchanting Lady, Dancing House, Spelling Again, Clothes Fall Off, Sunday Rules, Super Majesty and Fioretti.

Source: Keeneland