BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Drama Chorus bounced out of post four, went right to the front then led all the way to win the $50,000 Brooks Fields Mile by a dramatic nose at odds of 21-1 at Canterbury Park Saturday night. Sixth in the 2023 Brooks Fields and third in last year’s edition, Drama Chorus defeated five other 3-year-olds and older on the grass to win his first stakes since taking the $110,000 Grey Goose Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs in 2023.
Florida-bred Drama Chorus (Inside) – ©Coady Media
Drama Chorus, an 8-year-old gelded son of Big Drama was a length in front of Saline River past the finish line for the first time then stretched his lead to a length-and-a-half around the far turn through a leisurely :23.59 first two furlongs. He continued to show the way through a :48.49 half mile as Saline River applied pressure from his immediate right heading into the second turn. Jockey Alonso Quinonez cued Drama Chorus midway on the turn and he sprinted off to lead by two lengths turning for home as 6-5 favorite Keenebec and Tonka Warrior chased in a battle for second. Fearless Soldier appeared late on the far outside in the final sixteenth then hit the wire in tandem with Drama Chorus with Tonka Warrior another half-length back in third. Keenebec was fourth followed by Half Brother and Saline River. The final time on the firm turf was 1:36.32.
Drama Chorus paid $44.40 to win.
Trained by Tim Padilla, Drama Chorus is of Missmollybygolly, by Scat Daddy and is a homebred for Peter D. Mattson. He earned $30,000 for the victory to push his career bankroll to $458,435 from 12 wins in 45 starts with eight seconds and four thirds. His was his second win this year in six starts having won a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming going a mile on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs two starts back on May 2. In one race since, he was sixth, beaten 18 ¼ lengths by winner Kennebec with Tonka Warrior and Fearless Soldier second and third respectively in a upper level, $30,000 optional claiming going a mile at Canterbury on June 1.
Bred by Mattson, Missmollybygolly has four winners from six starters with Drama Chorus her only stakes winner. She also produced stakes-placed Bens Malace, by Palace Malace. She has an unnamed yearling filly by Palace Malace, bred in Florida by Joan Bowling. Missmollybygolly was bred to Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Simplification in 2024. Missmollybygolly is a half-sister to stakes-place, multiple stakes-producer Blanco, stakes-placed, stakes-producer Speak Peace and stakes-placed Speak Up Sailor.
She was sold in foal to Palace Malace at the 2024 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale where Straightaway Farm bought her for $30,000.
