Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Big Drama ran his five rivals into the ground en route to setting a Gulfstream Park track record in Saturday's Grade 3 Mr. Prospector. Big Drama led every step of the way, clicked off early fractions of 22.12 and 44.43, and hit the finish line in a blazing 1:08.12.
Mr. Prospector Chart (via DRF.com)
Custom for Carlos put in a great effort in his first start since last April, but he didn't have the firepower to keep up with Big Drama inside the final furlong. The rest of the field was over thirteen lengths back of second place.
Out in California, Tapizar continued his fine form the Sham with a gate-to-wire performance. Tapizar set early fractions of 22.62, 45.25 and 1:08.83 on his way to an easy four length win over Clubhouse Ride. The main track at Santa Anita has been lightening fast all meet long so the fractions of the race are probably a bit deceiving. Regardless of the raw numbers, the son of Tapit controlled the race from the second the field left the starting gate and held at least a two length lead from the half mile mark to the finish.
Tapizar certainly didn't do anything to diminish the high expectations beginning to pile up on this colt. His last two efforts, both of which were two-turns races, have been simply fantastic runs on his part and he appears to be getting better with each and every start. Additionally, he's shown the ability to win on the lead or sitting just of the pace, so it appears he's got at least a bit of versatility.
Trainer Steve Asmussen didn't indicate where Tapizar would make his next start but if he stays in California it would seem likely that he'll run in either the Robert B. Lewis on February 12th or the San Felipe on March 12th, followed by the Santa Anita Derby on April 9th.
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