Tribal Drama Determined in Saturday's Affirmed

Hallmarc Racing’s Tribal Drama followed up a recent impressive debut victory with a gutsy triumph in Saturday’s $300,000 Affirmed at Gulfstream Park.

The Affirmed and $300,000 Susan’s Girl Divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes Series topped a lucrative 12-race program featuring six stakes worth $1.05 million.

Tribal Drama, who prevailed by a neck in the race for 2-year-old males sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida, is a son of Big Drama, the 2010 Eclipse Award sprint champion and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner trained by David Fawkes.

Tribal Drama was saddled for Saturday’s successful stakes debut by Fawkes, who had unveiled the promising colt at Gulfstream Aug. 2. The Florida-bred colt came through with a brilliant 5 ¾-length victory that day.

“We knew right away [that he was going to be a nice colt],” Fawkes said. “He showed talent right from the beginning.”

Tribal Drama debuted too late to participate in the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series, the $200,000 Dr. Fager, Aug. 8

“I didn't want to put him right in the Sire Stakes to run the first time. That's a lot to ask. So, we made a decision to wait for this race,” Fawkes said. “He could have run in between, but we chose to wait, and it worked."

Ridden by Eddie Castro, who notched four victories Saturday, Tribal Drama stalked the early pace set along the backstretch by favored Dream of Me, the winner of the Dr. Fager. Tribal Drama, the 3-1 second choice, moved alongside the pacesetter on the turn before being set down for the drive at the top of the stretch. Dream of Me fought back gamely under Eduardo Nunez, but Tribal Drama edged always to take a clear lead in mid-stretch before meeting an outside challenge by Abercorn nearing the line. The late danger ate away at the David Fawkes trainee’s lead, only to fall short by a neck at the finish of the seven-furlong sprint.

“It was a nice trip. I sat a little bit off of the speed and was clear all the time. When I had to ride, I had to ride, but he's a nice horse. It was just his second race and he's two-for-two,” Castro said. “I'm glad that he could win. I was a little worried about the track because it was his first time (in slop), but he handled it good. He won and that's what matters.”

 

Tribal Drama ran seven furlongs over the sloppy surface in 1:25.61. Abercorn, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, fell just short of giving Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Stanley Gold their third win of the day in Florida Sire Stakes action. (Jacks or Better Farm and Gold teamed for victories with Ballet Diva in the Susan’s Girl for 2-year-old fillies and Twotwentyfive A in the $150,000 Prized for 3-year-old males.) Li’l Meatball rallied late under jockey Miguel Vasquez to finish third, another three-quarters of a length farther back and a neck ahead of Dream of Me.

 

The third leg of the Florida Sire Stakes for 2-year-old males, the 1 1/16-mile $500,000 In Reality, is scheduled for Oct. 3 at Gulfstream.