How the Pacific Classic is shaping up.....

[my miss storm cat]

From Del Mar barn notes.....

PERFECT DRIFT COMING BACK FOR ANOTHER PACIFIC CLASSIC

Hoping the third time could be the charm, trainer Murray Johnson says the old warrior Perfect Drift, runner-up the past two years in Del Mar’s Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic, is on track to give it another try when the call to the post comes for another Pacific Classic on Sunday, August 20. Perfect Drift joins Lava Man, who finished third in last year’s Pacific Classic and won the 2006 Santa Anita Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup; Ace Blue, who ran in the race last year and who finished just a nose behind Lava Man in the Gold Cup; 2005 Kentucky Derby and 2006 San Diego Handicap winner Giacomo; San Diego runner-up Preachinatthebar; Super Frolic, third in the Gold Cup; and Magnum, fourth in the Gold Cup as solid choices to run in the race.

Adding their names to the potential field this morning were Papi Chullo, who crossed the wire third in the San Diego but was disqualified to last for interference, and Top This and That, a resounding winner in an optional claiming/allowance race at Del Mar Sunday.

Others being considered: Sinister Minister, Funny Cide and Suave. Perfect Drift’s trainer said this morning by telephone from his Louisville, Ky., headquarters that the 7-year-old campaigner came out of Saturday’s second-place finish to Suave in Arlington Park’s Grade II Washington Park Handicap in good shape and is back in his Louisville barn getting ready for another westward jaunt. “The horse looks good,” said the upbeat Johnson, who has learned to take runner-up finishes in stride over the years he’s trained Perfect Drift. Perfect Drift has posted 11 seconds to go along with his 12 wins as he’s run up purse earnings of $4,530,483. “It would have been nice to win the Washington Park but it set him up just right for the next start,” Johnson said, adding that “last year we won at Arlington and ran second there [at Del Mar], so this year we’ll have to switch and win the Pacific Classic.” His regular rider, Mark Guidry, retains the mount.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer expressed happiness with a 1:14 move at 6 furlongs for Ace Blue this morning. “The work was very good,” Hollendorfer said. “We’re looking at the Pacific Classic. We’re hopeful that Victor Espinoza will ride. He was up on him the last time [the fast-closing near-win in the Gold Cup].” Espinoza was in the irons for the morning drill. Trainer Dan Hendricks, happy with Sunday’s victory by Top This and That, said, “We’re kicking the idea [of running in the Pacific Classic] around. He seems to want a mile and a quarter and he seems to like the track. We’ll look at it as a possibility. “Jeff and Lance Hayes [the owners] are from San Diego and it would be a lot of fun for them to run in that race. We beat Giacomo in the Strub so it’s not totally outrageous thing. He’s a hard-knocking horse and fits the style of the race. Jerry Higman picked him out of a maiden $40,000 claiming race early in his 3-year-old year and he’s made over $200,000 for us.”

Top This and That was second to High Limit in the Strub Stakes last winter as Giacomo checked in third. Papi Chullo owner Greg Norman said, “We’re looking at the Pacific Classic for him. We’re interested to see who and how many before we make a decision.” As for a rider, Norman said his first choice is Garrett Gomez.