Big Drama will return to the scene of his greatest triumph, Churchill Downs, to defend his title in the  Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). The 5-year-old son of Montbrook will make his final career start in the $1.5 million race on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Trained by David Fawkes, Big Drama has set two track records, won stakes at five different tracks, and regardless of Saturday's outcome, the race will be bittersweet for Fawkes.

“This horse has taken us a lot of places,” Fawkes said. “That’s the thing about a great horse. They take you places.”

After his track record-setting performance in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector S. at Gulfstream Park in January, Fawkes gave his stable star some time off. He returned to the races in early September, when he easily won the Whippleton S. at Calder.

“He doesn’t really have to try very hard,” Fawkes said. “You always ask yourself, are you screwed down tight enough? When you come out of Calder, that track is very tiring, even in the day-to-day gallops. I think maybe the sharpness of the race you might lose, but as far as fitness, he’s a very fit horse.”

Big Drama is 11-4-1 in 18 starts with earnings of $2,746,060. He is owned by his breeder Harold Queen.

Montbrook, a four-time champion sire in Florida, is once again near the top of the Sunshine State stallion list in 2011, with his leading earner on the year the two-time Grade 2 winner Tackleberry.