Dilger will be looking to nail down his first stakes win Saturday when he starts as the 123-pound highweight in the $75,000 Big Drama Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
The seven-furlong race is for 3-year-olds and up. The field of seven includes Shaq Diesel and Pure Class for trainer David Fawkes, who trained champion sprinter Big Drama.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. saddles Dilger, who enters the Big Drama off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Carter at seven furlongs April 5 at Aqueduct. There, he equaled his best Beyer Speed Figure, a 93.
“He ran well last time, so I think seven furlongs is a good distance for him,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, he can poke through in this race.”
Dilger has placed in three stakes in his career, as he also was third in the Grade 3 Lexington last year at Keeneland and third in the Harrods Creek last September at Churchill Downs. For the Big Drama, he will break from post 3 under Edgard Zayas.
“He kind of has tactical speed, where he’s a stalker,” said Joseph. “A little off the pace – that’s what he seems best at.”
Michael Ryan owns Dilger, a 4-year-old by the Irish stallion Lope de Vega.
Joseph also will saddle Of a Revolution, who has placed in four stakes. He enters off a seventh-place finish in the $150,000 Army Mule on March 29 at Gulfstream and is weighted at 118.
Of a Revolution was prominent in the seven-furlong race, dueling up front before ending up 5 1/4 lengths behind the winner. His last two wins have come in 6 1/2-furlong allowances at Gulfstream.
“Of a Revolution, seven furlongs is a little on the far side for him, but he ran a decent race last time going seven furlongs, and this is a bit easier,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, he can run a similar race.”
Of a Revolution contested the pace through six furlongs in 1:09.60 in the Army Mule and could steal away or track Air Combat on Saturday when he breaks from post 2 under Rocco Bowen. Of a Revolution will be making his second start since January for owners Bassett Stables, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables.
Air Combat, weighted at 121, owns the field’s co-highest last-race Beyer Speed Figure. He earned a 93 for a win in an optional-claiming sprint at six furlongs March 27, the same number Dilger earned in the Carter. Air Combat was claimed for $62,500 that afternoon and will be seeking to win his fifth straight race when he starts in the Big Drama.
Fawkes trainee Shaq Diesel will carry 120 pounds off a runner-up finish in a local allowance over seven furlongs April 19. Last season, Shaq Diesel rallied for third in the Big Drama. His stablemate, Pure Class, who is weighted at 117, was a stakes winner over seven furlongs last year at 3.
Life Is Precious, weighted at 118, is stretching back out to seven furlongs after a third-place finish in an allowance at six furlongs. His last two wins have come at the distance of the Big Drama.
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