Perfect Drift Out of the Mix

For the first time since 1996, the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, which will be run Saturday, will be a handicap instead of a weight-for-age race.

The pounds were hardly piled on any of the 10 entered to run 1 1/4 miles in the Grade I. Lava Man, a $50,000 claim last Aug. 13 at Del Mar and the upset winner of the Californian on June 18, was given top weight of 118.

That is six pounds fewer than Lady Gold Slew and Sophia Ofthe Hills, a pair of 4-year-old fillies who are a combined 0 for 23, will carry in today’s eighth race at Hollywood Park, a $25,000 maiden claimer.

The impost is also 16 pounds less than what Ack Ack carried to victory when he won the Gold Cup by 3 3/4 lengths in 1971. The 3-10 favorite had to concede his seven rivals 17 to 25 pounds that day.

There is not much difference between top and bottom in this weight scale. The low weight in the 66th Gold Cup was given 112 pounds.

Eleven horses were expected for the Gold Cup, which is part of a card that also includes the $400,000 Swaps Breeders’ Cup Stakes and the $150,000 A Gleam Handicap, but there was a late defection.

Perfect Drift, who has earned more than $3.3 million and won 10 of 30 for Stonecrest Farm and trainer Murray Johnson, didn’t make the trip west because of what Johnson called a tiny ulcer in one of the gelding’s eyes.

“It’s healed well since we decided not to go, but I’m not sure that he would be 100% and I didn’t want to put him under any stress,” Johnson said.

Limehouse did ship to Inglewood and the 4-year-old Grand Slam colt probably will be favored on Russ Hudak’s morning line. Limehouse, owned by Dogwood Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, has won two in a row and seven of 17 in his career.

After beginning 2005 with four losses, Limehouse won the ungraded Alysheba on May 6 at Churchill Downs, then went to New York and won the Brooklyn Handicap, a Grade II, June 11 at Belmont Park. The chestnut, who was fourth in last year’s Kentucky Derby in his only other start at 1 1/4 miles, will break from the rail and be ridden by John Velazquez.

Borrego, Deputy Lad, Pt’s Grey Eagle, Anziyan Royalty, Congrats, the probable second choice, Lava Man, Musique Toujours, Al Arz and Keep On Punching complete the field.

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Eight 3-year-olds were entered in the Swaps, a Grade II at 1 1/8 miles, and the lineup is headed by Don’t Get Mad.

Owned by B. Wayne Hughes and trained by Ron Ellis, Don’t Get Mad, a son of Stephen Got Even, won the Northern Dancer by a little more than three lengths June 18 at Churchill Downs, the track where he has earned all four of his wins. He went 0 for 3 at Santa Anita earlier this year and will be making his Hollywood Park debut Saturday.

Indian Ocean will be seeking his fourth win in a row and trying to become the second horse in four years to win both the Affirmed and the Swaps. Came Home won both races in 2002.

Old Man River, Dover Dere, Robador, Yes He’s A Pistol and Khyber Pass also are scheduled to run.