Perfect Drift Is a Perfect Fit

The defection-riddled Breeders’ Cup Classic needs Perfect Drift, and trainer Murray Johnson confirmed Thursday from Kentucky that his 4-year-old gelding will be running in the richest race on the card at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

“It’s official,” Johnson said. “We’ll have two more workouts [at the Trackside training center in Louisville], the next two Saturdays. I’d like to get to Santa Anita as late as possible. I’d come on [Oct. 24], but I probably can’t get a plane that late. We’ll be in there two or three days before the race.”

Johnson had resisted running in the Classic, but when Mineshaft, Candy Ride, Empire Maker and Funny Cide were withdrawn, he and Perfect Drift’s owner, William Reed, changed their minds. Perfect Drift, undefeated in four starts on dirt this year, including a win over the recently retired Mineshaft, could win horse-of-the-year honors with a victory in the Classic.

William Hill, the British bookmaking concern, has made Medaglia d’Oro and Ten Most Wanted co-favorites for the Classic, but Johnson feels that either Medaglia d’Oro or Perfect Drift will be favored.

Perfect Drift needs a jockey. Pat Day, who has won four times with the horse, including a victory in the Hawthorne Cup on Sept. 28, is committed to Ten Most Wanted.

“I’ll leave the jockey situation up to [Reed],” Johnson said.

Besides Perfect Drift, Medaglia d’Oro and Ten Most Wanted, other probables for the $4-million Classic are Pleasantly Perfect, Fleetstreet Dancer, Congaree, Hold That Tiger, Evening Attire, Bowman’s Band and Volponi, who won last year’s Classic but hasn’t won a race since. Two others who might run are also candidates for grass races on the Breeders’ Cup card, Falbrav in the Turf and Peace Rules in the Mile.

Preliminary eligibility payments are due Tuesday, and the pre-entry list for all eight races will be announced Thursday. Entry day, when post positions are drawn, is Oct. 22.

*

Eurosilver and Najran won’t run in the Breeders’ Cup. Eurosilver has a sore shin that will prevent him from running in the Juvenile, and Najran, a candidate for the Sprint, has been retired.... Jose Santos has regained the mount on Volponi.... Funny Cide has returned to the ranks of the New York-breds. He’s expected to run in the $250,000 Empire Classic Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 18.