BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred stablemates Shaq Diesel and Pure Class will carry the Florida colors against top-weighted Dilger (Ire) into Saturday’s $75,000 Big Drama Handicap, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds and older at Gulfstream Park. Dilger has been assigned to carry 123 pounds and will give away between two and five pounds to his six rivals including Shaq Diesel with 121 pounds and Pure Class with a 117-pound impost.
Trained by David Fawkes for Anthony Hinkson, Alvin Rampaul, Patrick Biggs, Donovan Stanford and breeder Chester A. Bishop, Shaq Diesel looks for his first win since taking an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming going seven furlongs at Gulfstream last April.
Although he has not made the winner’s circle in six starts since, he has produced a paycheck in each outing. That span featured starts in two stakes and two overnight handicaps including in last year’s Big Drama when third behind Florida-bred winner Octane on May 25.
His only off-the-board finish during that time was a trouble-laded race against graded stakes company when fifth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile won by Mindframe on March 1. He had a slow start after his head was cocked sideways at the break then had a six-wide trip around the turn.
Better luck in his last race on April 19 at Gulfstream resulted in a solid second to Antiquarian in an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming going seven furlongs.
Shaq Diesel is by Ocala Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan out of Kleodora, by Tiznow. He has six lifetime wins with three seconds and three thirds in 22 races while earning $313,985.
Miquel Vasquez gets the return mount and they will break from post four. Shaq Diesel is 7-2 on the morning line.
Pure Class tries for a second straight victory after winning at the $50,000 claiming level going seven furlongs on March 9 for Fawkes.
In one other start this year, the 4-year-old gelded son of The Big Beast was seventh, five lengths behind winner Nutella Fella in the $100,000 Pelican (Listed) going six furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 8. Big Drama rival Live is Precious was third in the Pelican.
A homebred for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, Pure Class has a reliable record of five wins and four seconds in 13 starts including a half-length victory in a first level, $25,000 optional claiming in November at Gulfstream. He earned black type in winning the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore versus fellow Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs in March of last year.
Pure Class is out of I’mclassyandsassy, by Master Command and sports career revenues of $261,600. He is 15-1 on the morning line and breaks from post one with Edwin Gonzalez.
Dilger returns to Gulfstream from his last race at Aqueduct when second to Crazy Mason in the Grade 2 Carter going seven furlongs on April 5. Two starts back he won against first level, $25,000 optional claimers sprinting six furlongs at Gulfstream on March 2.
Dilger is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owner Michael J. Ryan and looks to build on his record of two wins with a second and four thirds with earnings of $206,390.
Dilger is the 9-5 morning line favorite and will break from post three with Edgard Zayas aboard.
Others set for the Big Drama are Of a Revolution and jockey Rocco Bowen, Life is Precious has Cipriano Gil riding, Emisael Jaramillo has the call on Air Combat and Con Compania (Chi) will be ridden by Marcos Meneses.
Return to the May 23 issue of Wire to Wire
