SunshineMillions.qxp_Florida Horse_template 2/24/20 2:12 PM Page 14
Noble Drama Tenacious in Sunshine Millions Classic By BROCK SHERIDAN hings were not looking great for Noble Drama after two furlongs in the mile-andone-eighth Sunshine Millions Classic for 4-year-olds and older at Gulfstream Park Jan. 18. After breaking slow from post one, Noble Drama had to be hustled up to be seventh and four lengths behind 4-1 third choice Salute With Honor and jockey Tyler Gaffalione as they were galloping along with a comfortable, one-length lead ahead of second-running Squeezadios. Although the David Fawkestrained Noble Drama had plenty of late-running credentials, Salute With Honor had just clicked-off the first quarter-mile in a convenient :23.85 that would further challenge his come-from behind style. Even when Noble Drama began to pass horses with authority around the far turn after Sqeezadios went a half-mile in :47.85 and with 8-5 favorite Red Crescent beginning his assault, jockey Emisael Jaramillo and Noble Drama were forced to run widest of all into the six path for their offensive. Past the eighth-pole, Noble Drama was in full flight on the outside and appeared to be moving best of all but Red Crescent fought back to keep a head in front while those two separated from the others. But Noble Drama, after all the adversity in the previous mile, elicited a bit more tenacity to win by a head over Red Crescent at the finish and get the winner’s share of the $200,000 Classic in a final time of 1:50.78. Sqeezadios was third followed in order by Salute With Honor, Super Dude, Tap the Mojo and Jay’s Way. “I rode him exactly like the last time. I knew there was a lot of speed, so we came from behind and ran at the end,” said Jaramillo, who had ridden Noble Drama to an optional claiming allowance victory off an eight-month layoff Dec. 22. Noble Drama is owned and was bred by Harold L. Queen of Ocala, Fla., who rested and trained him during an eighth-month lay-off before returning the 5-year-old gelding to Fawkes in December to win a second level optional claiming race at Gulfstream. “He ran huge. Harold did a wonderful job of getting this horse ready. When he sent him back to me, I literally led him over here and he won, and he ran a huge race,” Fawkes said. “He gained a bunch of weight on the farm, and the horse came back and ran huge.
RYAN YHOMPSON PHO TO
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14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MARCH 2020
