BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Third in last year’s Big Drama won by fellow Florida-bred Octane, Shaq Diesel won this year’s edition with authority, scoring by four lengths with 120 pounds and jockey Miguel Vasquez aboard. Taking the winner’s share of the $75,000 purse while getting three pounds from highweight Dilger (Ire), Shaq Diesel won his second career stakes and first since winning the $100,000 Marion County division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in December of 2023.

Air Combat, a winner of his last four in the claiming and optional claiming ranks, had the fastest start from the outside post in the field of six 3-year-olds and older but was shortly joined by 3-2 favorite and Dilger (Ire) and Of a Revolution to his inside. Shaq Diesel was in no hurry as he tucked in behind those three for the run down the backstretch. 

Air Combat and Dilger edged away from Of a Revolution around the turn as Vasquez went to work on Shaq Diesel, asking him to catch up while three-wide. Air Combat took a short lead out of the turn after a relaxed :46.14 half mile but could not hold off Shaq Diesel in the stretch as the Florida-bred went to the front with a furlong to run. Shaq Diesel kicked clear approaching the wire to win with ease in 1:24.17 on the fast track. Air Combat was second, three-quarters of a length faster than Life is Precious in third. Florida-bred Pure Class, Of a Revolution and Dilger finished in that order. Con Compania was scratched.

Shaq Diesel paid $7.40 to win.  

Trained by David Fawkes for Chester Bishop and Anthony R. Hinkson, Alvin Rampaul, Patrick Biggs and Donovan Stanford, Shaq Diesel won for the first time since April of last year when he took a first level, $25,000 optional claiming at Gulfstream. In six starts since, however, he had produced two seconds and two thirds with his worst start coming in a troubled trip in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile won by Mindframe on March 1. The 5-year-old son of Khozan returned strong in his previous race, finishing a strong second to Antiquarian in an upper level, $62,5000 optional claiming going seven furlongs at Gulfstream on April 19.

Shaq Diesel improved his record to seven wins, three seconds and three thirds in 23 starts and increased his career earnings to $358,535. Out of the Tiznow mare Kleodora, Shaq Diesel was bred in Florida by Bishop Racing Inc. 

Kleodora has three winners from four starter and seven foals with Shaq Diesel her only black-type winner. She has an unraced 2-year-old filly, Welcome Surprise; and an unnamed yearling filly, both by Volatile. She was bred to Loggins in 2024. 

Return to the May 24 issue of Wire to Wire