BY BROCK SHERIDAN

A two-time victory over the winter at Tampa Bay Downs where he twice won the $110,000 Grey Goose Turf Classic in previous years, Florida-bred Drama Chorus tries to find that winning form again Saturday at Canterbury Park in the $50,000 Brooks Fields Mile on the grass. Trained by Tim Padilla for Peter D. Mattson, Drama Chorus is one of six 3-year-olds and older in the Brooks Fields.

 

While Drama Chorus has had considerable success over the Canterbury grass course with five wins in 14 previous tries, he was sixth in last out there in an upper level, $30,000 optional claiming going a mile on June 1. He will also have to improve against the top four finishers in that race, Kennebec, Tonka Warrior, Fearless Soldier and Half Brother—who are all entered in the Brooks Fields Mile.

Two starts back at Tampa, Drama Chorus was a half-length winner of a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming going a mile on the turf on May 2, a condition under which he also won at Tampa on Dec. 27.

 

Unsuccessful when off the board in this year’s ESMARK Turf Classic won by Crystal Quest at Tampa on March 30, Drama Chorus was then fourth in a second condition $32,000 optional claiming at a mile-and-a-sixteenth there on April 11.

At 8-years-old, Drama Chorus is the veteran in the race that also includes 7-year-old Kennebec and Tonka Warrior at age 6 and sports the largest bankroll with $428,435 to his credit. Drama Chorus has won 11 with 8 seconds and four thirds from 44 starts.

Bred in Florida by Pete Mattson, Drama Chorus is by Big Drama out of Missmollybygolly, by Scat Daddy.

He is 12-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post four by Alonso Quinonez.

Kennebec, a winner of eight of 14 starts in 2024 and 2025, spent the winter at Turf Paradise where in his last two starts there won the $50,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons going a mile on the grass in March then finished second to Fearless Soldier in the $50,000 Richard Hazelton at 11 furlongs on the turf on May 3.  

Jose Silva, Jr. trains Keenebec for Kirk Sutherland. The son of Lookin At Lucky has won 14 with 11 seconds and six thirds from 40 starts with earnings of $394,343.

Fausto Henrique Da Silva will ride from post five.

Tonka Warrior ran at Oaklawn Park this past winter where his best finish in five starts was a second to Osbourne in a upper level, $50,000 optional claiming going a mile on dirt on Dec. 21. 

A son of Cupid, Tonka Warrior has enjoyed the Canterbury turf in eight previous races there with three wins, two seconds and a third. His career mark reflects seven wins, eight second and five thirds in 31 races with earnings of $397,159.

He is listed at 5-2 on the morning line and Harry Hernandez will guide him from the outside post seven.

Also set for the Brooks Fields are Saline River with jockey Guillermo Rodriguez, Daniel Vergara rides Fearless Soldier, Half Brother will have Leandro Goncalves in the irons and Leslie Mawing has the mount on High Ransom.

Return to the June 18 issue of Wire to Wire