Big Drama back in action for Mr. Prospector

Big Drama won the Smile Sprint the last time he raced in his home state (Jim Lisa Photos) It could be a huge weekend for the connections of Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner BIG DRAMA (Montbrook). On Saturday they will see their five-year-old kick off his 2011 campaign as the likely heavy favorite in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector S. (G3), and on Monday night they will take the short jaunt to Miami Beach for the Eclipse Awards ceremony where Big Drama is favored in the race to be named champion male sprinter of 2010. Big Drama, who has not raced since his wire-to-wire performance in the November 6 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs, will break outside all five rivals in the six-furlong Mr. Prospector. In addition to his triumph in the Sprint, Big Drama counted wins in the Smile Sprint H. (G2) and Ponche H. last season as well as runner-up efforts in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) and Forego S. (G1). In his only previous start at Gulfstream, Big Drama crossed the wire first in the 2009 Swale S. (G2) but was demoted to second for stretch interference. Eibar Coa rides. The Mr. Prospector will be no walk in the park. Returning for a title defense is CUSTOM FOR CARLOS (More Than Ready), who splashed his way through the slop to take last year's edition by three parts of a length. A neck second in the Toboggan S. (G3) in his next start, Custom for Carlos concluded his brief campaign with a neck victory in the Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) at Oaklawn. Subsequently sidelined by injury, he'll be reunited Saturday with Julien Leparoux.

In his only prior meeting with Big Drama, Custom for Carlos finished five

lengths behind that rival in the 2009 Swale.

TAQARUB (Aldebaran) was another graded stakes winner last year whose season

was cut short due to injury. His signature win came in the Maryland Sprint H.

(G3) on the Preakness undercard, but he hit the sidelines after finishing

fourth, beaten seven lengths, behind Big Drama in the Smile Sprint in July.

Grade 3 veteran OUR EDGE (The Cliff's Edge) shortens up after routinely

faltering in minor stakes at a mile and beyond for trainer Nick Zito. Grade

2-placed PEACE AT DAWN (Peace Rules) and the stakes-placed CATALAN (Holy Bull)

complete the field.

JESSICA IS BACK (Put It Back), who landed the Princess Rooney H. (G1) across

town at Calder last summer, kicks off her seven-year-old campaign in the

$100,000

Sugar Swirl S. (G3). The six-furlong dash attracted a significantly larger

group than the Mr. Prospector, 10 fillies and mares in all.

The Princess Rooney was the only open stakes victory last year for the Marty

Wolfson-trained mare, but she placed in other top events like the Ballerina S.

(G1), Fleur de Lis H. (G2), Sixty Sails H. (G3) and Sunshine Millions Distaff.

However, 2010 ended on a disappointing note when she was a rough-trip ninth in

the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs.

TAR HEEL MOM (Faltter) was a little unlucky not to win in three Gulfstream

appearances last winter, running a close third in the Sugar Swirl and second in

the Hurricane Bertie S. (G3) and Inside Information S. (G2). She got back on the

winning track with a score in the Distaff H. (G2) at Aqueduct, but missed six

months of action after missing by less than a length in the Vagrancy H. (G2).

She returned to action in the December 4 Garland of Roses H. at the Big A,

weakening to third after making the early lead.

Other major contenders in the Sugar Swirl include MOONTUNE MISSY (Forest

Wildcat), a head second in the Gallant Bloom H. (G2) two back but 12th after a

troubled trip in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and HILDA'S PASSION

(Canadian Frontier), who's taken the Raven Run S. (G2) and Bennington S. in her

last two starts for trainer Todd Pletcher.