NYRA/Adam Coglianese
By Sarah Mace
Cutting back in distance from a route to six furlongs, four-year-old Drama King kicked past five of seven rivals in the stretch to win his first career stakes victory in a contentious renewal of the $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes for older New York-breds, Aqueduct’s feature on a snowy President’s Day afternoon.
Trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb and partners Bethlehem Stables LLC, Michael Imperio and David Simon, the Nobiz Like Shobiz colt came into the Hollie Hughes looking to drive his 2016 record on the Aqueduct inner oval to a perfect two-for-two, and poised to win three straight going back to November 29. Bettors, confident that Drama King was sitting on a big race, hammered him down to 2-1 favoritism from his 10-1 morning line.
On or near the lead in his last two winning efforts, but “squeezed a little at the break,” according to jockey Junior Alvarado, Drama King sat off the pace in the early stages of the race, while the speedy Bond Vigilante, pressed by Marriedtothemusic, covered the first quarter mile in 22.70 and a half in 46.03.
NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
Edging out into the two path midway on the turn, Drama King angled wide in upper stretch and came barreling down the center of the track, still in sixth.
The colt blew past four rivals in midstretch and collared new leader Eye Luv Lulu in the final stages, kicking clear to a 1 1/2-length victory in a final time of 1:10.89.
Eye Luv Lulu (10-1) finished second, while Between the Lines (9-2) edged Possessed for the show spot. Completing the order of finish were Bond Vigilante, West Hills Giant, Escape to the Moon and Marriedtothemusic. Ostrolenka, Towering Moon, and Crafty Dreamer were scratched. [VIDEO]
Alvarado described his tactics. “I knew the speed was probably going to go away from me [early],” said the pilot. “He broke good, I got squeezed a little at the break, and I just tried to settle a little bit. The only thing, actually, they told me was, ‘make sure when you’re turning for home that he’s in the clear on the outside. He won’t run much if he’s inside of horses.’ He was pretty much helping me the whole way. When I asked him at the three-eighths pole to get room and then move out, he was there for me. After that, turning for home, I knew he was going to get there.”
Part-owner Michael Imperio offered, “It was the perfect trip. The only instructions to Junior were to keep him outside turning for home because he doesn’t like to pass horses on the inside. I think coming out of the route race back to sprint they went a pretty fast :22 [seconds] and change, but he rode her perfect. He got him out in time and flying down the stretch.”
Drama King adds his sixth career win and first stakes victory to three seconds and two thirds, including a placing in last year’s Rego Park Stakes. He has earned $285,020 from 16 starts.
Foaled at Keane Stud in Amenia, the colt is one of two winners from two starters out of Winters Bell, a winning Iowa-bred daughter of Winter Glitter. Her first foal Mighty Zealous has earned over $170,000.
Drama King changed hands once at public auction, purchased by Lady Luck Stable for $13,000 in the 2014 OBS Open sale of Horses of Racing Age.
