Sheer Drama (outside) outfought Frivolous to win the Delaware Handicap.
From a Delaware Park release
Harold Queen’s Sheer Drama, with Joe Bravo aboard, posted a 2-length victory in the $750,000 Grade I Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park today. This was the first Grade I victory and the first victory going a mile and a quarter for the daughter of Burning Roma.
Frivolous, with Jon Court, set an early pace of :48.83 for the half mile and 1:12.57 for the three-quarters mile before finishing second. It was another 3 ¾-lengths back to America, with Junior Alvarado, in third. The 9-to-5 favorite , Rosalind with Joel Rosario, finished sixth of seven.
Sheer Drama covered the mile and a quarter in 2:01.58 on a fast main track and returned $7.00 as the second-choice. The Florida-bred conditioned by David Fawkes raised her career record to five wins from 18 starts with earnings of $918,840.
Previously, Frivolous defeated Sheer Drama by 1 ½-lengths in front-running style in the Grade II Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 13.
“It is a Grade I and a really big deal,” said winning trainer David Fawkes. “It played out a lot like the Fleur de Lis, just like the announcer described today, but I knew that would really help us. She came into this race great and I loved her sitting second. Joe and I had talked about it the race before and I did not think she was going to make the lead. It could not have worked out better. Everything played out perfect. Nobody was closing and I knew our filly had the other one at the head of the lane. But I got to give Frivolous credit, because she battled all the way to the wire and made us run.”
