A year ago, it was arguable that the top 3-year-old in the country around one turn was Montbrook's Big Drama, following the colt's impressive win over top sprinters This Ones for Phil, Custom for Carlos and others in the seven-furlong Swale (G2) at Gulfstream in the first start of his sophomore campaign.

But Big Drama was so good that putting him on the Triple Crown Trail had to be attempted by owner and breeder Harold Queen and trainer David Fawkes. After all, Big Drama did accomplish a rare sweep of the Florida Stallions Stakes at Calder the previous year as a 2-year-old, which included a dominant win in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality S., and then went on to win the lucrative Delta Jackpot (G3) at the same distance to close out his first year as a racehorse.

Now a 4-year-old, Big Drama has returned to sprinting – a move that was rewarded with a sharp win in the $350,000 Smile Sprint H. (G2) on July 10th at his home track of Calder.

“He’s grown up since last year,” said Fawkes in the winner's circle. “He’s a bigger, stronger horse. We’ll keep him sprinting and hope to get him to the Breeders’ Cup (Sprint).”

Sent off as the favorite in the field of 12 Saturday, Big Drama broke sharply and tracked the fast early pace three-wide through a half-mile in 44.94 seconds. He easily took command at the quarter pole and began to open up on the field as they straightened for the stretch run.

Under a hard drive by jockey Eibar Coa, Big Drama finished well despite the ambitious early pace, hitting the wire a comfortable 1 ½ lengths in front to prove best. The final time was 1:10.93 over a local main track that played slow all day. But Big Drama's performance was anything but slow, as he earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure and validated his spot towards the top of the Sprint division.

“He certainly ran the way I expected him to run today,” Coa said. “That last race in the Ponche set him up perfectly, and Mr. Fawkes has him right where he needs to be at this point. I know this horse quite well, and he feels as good as ever.”

In the aforementioned Ponche Handicap, Big Drama cruised to a 3 3/4-length win in his seasonal debut at Calder, setting him up for the Smile. Perfect on the year, Big Drama also sports a stellar career record. He now owns eight wins – seven in stakes – with two runner-up efforts and a third-place finish from 13 starts. The millionaire moved his impressive bankroll to $1,459,560, surpassing five-time graded stakes winner Shake You Down as Montbrook's all-time leading earner.

Big Drama hails from Ocala Stud roots on both sides on his family. The brilliant bay is out of three-time stakes producer Riveting Drama, who is a daughter of former Ocala Stud champion sire Notebook. Montbrook has also been a champion sire in Florida multiple times, and he currently leads all sires in the Sunshine State with eight stakes winners in 2010 – giving him an amazing 24% stakes winners from winners on the year.

Montbrook also has the most graded stakes winners so far in 2010 with three. Big Drama joined the leading 3-year-old filly Amen Hallelujah and top handicap horse Shadowbdancing as the third Grade 2 winner this season for their sire.