Perfect Drift Appears to Be on the Right Course

For a gelding who has won only two of 16 starts since the beginning of last year, Perfect Drift has made a nice living.

The 6-year-old son of Dynaformer has banked more than $2 million since the start of 2004 and figures to add more to his wallet when he takes on 11 others in the $500,000 Clark Handicap today at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Murray Johnson for Stonecrest Farm, Perfect Drift will be seeking to improve upon a third-place finish in last year’s Clark, a Grade II at 1 1/8 miles. He finished a little more than a length behind winner Saint Liam, the probable horse of the year for 2005 thanks primarily to his win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last month.

Mark Guidry will ride Perfect Drift, who has 11 wins in 34 starts and has earned more than $4.2 million. He finished third in the Breeders’ Classic on Oct. 29 at Belmont Park.

The field also includes Magna Graduate, who won the Discovery Handicap on the Breeders’ Cup undercard; Suave, who was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic; Alumni Hall; and Total Impact.

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In the absence of the Autumn Turf Festival, which was canceled because Hollywood Park does not have a functioning turf course, the Inglewood track has added two stakes for 2-year-olds this weekend.

On Saturday, males prepping for the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 17 will get together in the $100,000 Real Quiet. Fillies preparing for the Hollywood Starlet on Dec. 18 will run in the $100,000 Sharp Cat on Sunday.

Bob Baffert, who won the 1997 Hollywood Futurity and the 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Real Quiet, will start Bob And John against four rivals: Kissin Knight, Icy Ridge, Genre and Objective.

A son of Seeking The Gold, Bob And John will be making his first appearance at Hollywood Park. He broke his maiden by 11 1/2 lengths on Sept. 5 at Del Mar before finishing second to A.P. Warrior in an allowance race at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Baffert also is expected to have a Sharp Cat starter. Talullah Lula, who shortened up to break her maiden sprinting in her most recent start, will stretch to 1 1/16 miles against a field that is expected to include Cross, Balance, Evening Escort, Make Mine Minnie, My Little Monkey and Sweet Fourty.

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Indian Vale, the 2-1 favorite, dominated 10 opponents on Thursday at Churchill Downs, easily winning the $300,000 Falls City Handicap.

John Velazquez rode the 3-year-old A.P. Indy filly. She ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.25. Pampered Princess, in her final start, was second and Miss Fortunate was third.

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Atilla’s Storm, a 3-1 favorite, outfinished Voodoo to win the $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap on Thursday at Aqueduct.

The 3-year-old Forest Wildcat colt, who had finished fourth at 45-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, ran the six furlongs in 1:09.30. It was the fourth win in nine starts for Atilla’s Storm, who was ridden by Pablo Morales.

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Giacomo, who won the Kentucky Derby earlier in the year, worked four furlongs in 49.20 on Wednesday at Hollywood Park, his first drill since undergoing ankle and knee surgery some five months ago.

The son of Holy Bull will probably return to action early in Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet, which begins Dec. 26.