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#1
07-31-2006, 05:13 PM
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How the Pacific Classic is shaping up.....
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. 
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#2
07-31-2006, 08:26 PM
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Funny Cide is being considered huh? Interesting. If that happens it would mean two Kentucky Derby winners in the same race. It has been awhile since that happened. Does anybody know the last time it happened?
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#3
07-31-2006, 09:36 PM
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Alysheba and Ferdinand? Not sure, just guessing. Anyone know?
__________________
"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawaken. 
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#4
08-01-2006, 08:31 AM
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I have this really depressing vision of all the non-KY Derby winners blowing past those two...
 Who knows, maybe with Sinister Minister in the mix, the pace scenario will fold and Giacomo will have another big run...but you know I'm pulling for a certain Cali horse. 
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#5
08-01-2006, 08:40 AM
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#6
08-01-2006, 08:43 AM
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Agreed. I worry a little about the way Ace Blue nearly caught him at the end, but then again he did almost land on his nose leaving the gate, and he didn't have his ideal trip. Still, I agree that he gutted through that race impressively. Here's hoping...
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#7
08-01-2006, 08:47 AM
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#8
08-01-2006, 09:21 AM
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I can say with total confidence that Funny Cide is not being considered, never was, for the Pac Classic. Not sure where this info came from. I'd be shocked if any of the owners said it with any real conviction. Funny Cide has an equal chance of starting in this weekend's Whitney as he does in the Pac Classic...NONE.
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#10
08-01-2006, 10:25 AM
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No one knows when the last two derby winners faced each other? Just wondering. Good trivia question.
__________________
"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawaken.
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#11
08-02-2006, 08:39 PM
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Surf Cat is out of training..... http://www.drf.com/news/article/75517.html Add Good Reward and Top This and That to the list of probable starters. Last edited by my miss storm cat : 08-04-2006 at 07:07 PM.
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#13
08-02-2006, 08:47 PM
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#15
08-02-2006, 09:15 PM
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#16
08-03-2006, 08:10 AM
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Wasn't that an awesome race? I can't believe that it has been that long! One day maybe, but like you said most aren't racing after their 3 yr old year.
__________________
"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawaken.
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#17
08-03-2006, 08:46 AM
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Don't believe Unbridled and Strike the Gold faced each other.
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#18
08-03-2006, 12:33 PM
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I think the only reason they may have even been THINKING about bringing Funny Cide over is the tempature difference. The Spa has been BOILING lately. And we all know how well he runs in the heat....
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#19
08-04-2006, 07:08 PM
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On DRF today.....
Del Mar Surf Cat, Lucky J. H. out till winter By STEVE ANDERSEN DEL MAR, Calif. - Surf Cat, the winner of three stakes earlier this year and one of the nation's leading older horses, will not start until the winter meeting at Santa Anita because of a recurring foot injury, trainer Bruce Headley said. Surf Cat has not started since winning the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on May 13, his third stakes win of the year. Headley said that Surf Cat emerged from that race with a bruised foot. Surf Cat later resumed training, but was turned out when the injury resurfaced. Owned by Marsha Naify and Headley's wife, Aase, Surf Cat was not sent to Del Mar this summer, and is based at Headley's home, near Santa Anita. "I'll leave him there until I feel like he's ready," Headley said. Surf Cat, 4, has won seven of 11 starts and $562,420. Earlier this year, Surf Cat won the Potrero Grande and San Carlos handicaps for sprinters at Santa Anita. He missed the three-race Strub series at Santa Anita after severely grabbing a quarter last fall. Lucky J. H. also sidelined Lucky J. H., another promising older horse, is also out until Santa Anita, according to trainer Carla Gaines. Lucky J. H. who won the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs on June 10, has been turned out at owner John Harris's farm since mid-July, and will be there for four months, Gaines said. Lucky J. H., 5, did not have any significant injuries, she said. "There were not clinical signs [of injury], but it took him awhile to warm up," she said. Gaines said in July that Lucky J. H. was battling a foot problem that kept him out of the San Diego Handicap on July 22. Lucky J. H. has won five of 11 starts and $330,435.
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