2015: Two-year-old season

Drefong began his two-year-old-season on October 24, 2015, in a Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita Park at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs. He lost ground when he missed the start, made an "eye-catching" move to gain position, but then ducked in at the sixteenth pole fell back to finish fifth. He made his next start at Del Mar on November 14, going off as the 5-2 second choice. He went straight to the lead while setting fast early fractions, then pulled away down the stretch to win by 8+3⁄4 lengths. The impressive victory earned the colt the "TDN Rising Star" designation for Thoroughbred Daily News.^[5]

2016: Three-year-old season

To start off his sophomore season, Drefong ran in a six-furlong allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita on May 30, 2016, against older horses. Drefong broke well and battled for the lead with Saint of Saints to his inside and Gutsy Ruler to the outside. The three completed the first quarter-mile in an exceptionally fast 21.43 seconds, after which Saint of Saints gave way. Gutsy Ruler continued to challenge through a half mile run in 44.12 until he too started to drop back. Drefong continued to draw away and won by 3+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:08.50.^[6]

On July 4, Drefong ran in another allowance optional claimer, this time at a distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs. He chased the early leader Guy Code on the outside, then angled in towards the rail and passed Guy Code on the far turn. He continued to draw away down the stretch under a moderate hand ride and won by 5+1⁄4 lengths.^[7]

2017: 4-year-old season

Drefong's next race was supposed to be the Malibu Stakes but he spiked a fever and missed the race. He was then considered for the Dubai Golden Shaheen^[13] but Baffert decided the colt would not be able to handle the travel.^[14] Drefong finally make his seasonal debut in the Bing Crosby Stakes on July 29, 2017. He broke well but then veered sharply inwards at a gap in the rail where the starting chute meets the main track. Mike Smith lost his balance and fell onto the track. Now riderless, Drefong attempted to take the lead and then forced the other frontrunners, Roy H and Moe Candy, very wide at the top of the stretch. This helped Ransom the Moon to sneak through on the rail and hold off both Roy H and Moe Candy. Both Drefong and Mike Smith were checked for injuries as a precautionary procedure after the race, but both were uninjured. "There are a lot of ways to get beat and that's one of them," said Baffert. "You just are glad everybody is fine and safe. He could have just as easily broken a shoulder, but all is good."^[15]

On August 26, Drefong redeemed himself with a "straight and true" victory in the Forego Handicap at Saratoga. Although never seriously pressured, his time of 1:21.12 was less than two-fifths of a second off the track record for seven furlongs.^[16]

Drefong trained up to the Breeders' Cup Sprint, held on November 4 at Del Mar – the same track as his disastrous run in the Bing Crosby. He was made the 3-2 favorite in a very deep field that also included Roy H (Santa Anita Sprint Championship), Imperial Hint (Smile Sprint), Mind Your Biscuits (Belmont Sprint) and Takaful (Vosburgh). Drefong broke poorly and settled towards the back of the field, then angled out at the top of the stretch and tried to make a run. However, he came up flat and finished sixth, well beaten by the winner Roy H. "I knew in the first 100 yards it was over when he couldn't make the lead," said Baffert. "I knew the inside post would be tough on him and I could tell when he went across the gap there that Mike (Smith) was a little hesitant with him."^[17]

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding