Trainer David Fawkes won the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) in 2010 with Big Drama and returns this year with a two-pronged attack that includes the defending champion. This year's Sprint, worth $1.5 million, will be run at six furlongs.
Harold Queen’s homebred Big Drama, a 5-year-old son of Montbrook, will break from the No. 8 post position in the nine-horse field and has been installed the 5-2 favorite. Fawkes also sends out Donald Dizney’s homebred Apriority, who is on the outside at 30-1 morning line odds.
Since winning the 2010 Sprint, Big Drama has had two starts—both victories—separated by 6 1/2 months. In January, the Florida-bred colt won the Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) in 1:08.12 for six furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He re-emerged in September to take the Whippleton Stakes, at 6 1/2 furlongs, at Calder Casino and Race Course.
Fawkes said he has "no complaints" with the 8 post for Big Drama, although the colt won from the rail a year ago.
The trainer said his two Sprint contenders have different running styles, with Big Drama either having the lead or being up close throughout.
"He’s not as quick or has as much speed as Big Drama, but he can sit from off of him from that post," Fawkes said.
Longshot Apriority has three wins to his credit since and has been second twice in graded stakes company in seven starts this year.
The 7-2 second choice is Nick Zito-trained Jackson Bend, owned by Fred Brei’s Jacks Or Better Farm and Robert LaPenta. Bred in Florida by Jacks Or Better, Jackson Bend comes into the Sprint off a second to Classic (gr. I) favorite Uncle Mo in the Kelso Handicap (gr. II), which was preceded by a victory in the Forego (gr. I).
At odds of 4-1 odds is Euroears, a 7-year-old son of Langfuhr trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert who won the Bing Crosby (gr. I) at Del Mar in July. The 6-year-old Forest Camp gelding finished second in the Vosburgh Invitational, previous to the Sprint.
| Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) Nov 5 2:37 PM | ||||
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Euroears | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | 4 |
| 2 | Giant Ryan | Cornelio Velasquez | Bisnath Parbhoo | 8 |
| 3 | Aikenite | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | 8 |
| 4 | Hamazing Destiny | Robby Albarado | D. Wayne Lukas | 10 |
| 5 | Jackson Bend | Corey Nakatani | Nicholas P. Zito | 7-2 |
| 6 | Force Freeze | John Velazquez | Peter R. Walder | 10 |
| 7 | Amazombie | Mike Smith | William Spawr | 5 |
| 8 | Big Drama | Ramon Dominguez | David Fawkes | 5-2 |
| 9 | Apriority | Joel Rosario | David Fawkes | 30 |