Perfect Drift Works Out Well in Kentucky

Perfect Drift, who could earn horse-of-the-year honors with a victory in next Saturday’s $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic, worked five furlongs in 1:00 on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

It was the final serious drill for the 4-year-old Dynaformer gelding, who is perfect in four starts on the dirt this year, before he is shipped to California on Thursday.

Gary Stevens will ride Perfect Drift for the first time in the Classic, but jockey Joe Deegan, who regularly exercises the horse, was aboard for the work for trainer Murray Johnson.

“I thought he worked super,” Deegan said. “I think he’s as good now as he’s ever been.”

Meanwhile, at Hollywood Park, Ten Most Wanted, another strong Classic contender, worked five furlongs in 1:00 while in company with Menuhin. The 3-year-old son of Deputy Commander has won the Travers and Super Derby in his last two starts for trainer Wally Dollase.

*

Trainer Richard Mandella, who won two Breeders’ Cup races the last time the event was held at Santa Anita in 1993, had three of his runners for this year out Saturday morning.

Halfbridled, the unbeaten daughter of Unbridled who will be heavily favored in the Juvenile Fillies, worked six furlongs in a slow 1:16 3/5 while Turf contender Johar and Filly and Mare Turf longshot Dessert both went seven furlongs in 1:25 2/5 while working in company.

*

Favored Well Fancied won the $250,000 Empire Classic Handicap, the main event on New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

Other winners included Capeside Lady in the $100,000 Maid of the Mist, Friends Lake in the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow, Princess Dixie in the $125,000 Iroquois, Lady Bi Bi in the $150,000 Ticonderoga, One N Three in the $125,000 Hudson and Quiet Ruler in the $150,000 Mohawk.

*

Trainer Gary Stute earned his first Oak Tree stakes victory when The Herc, the 9-2 second choice, beat Voladero, a 6-1 shot, by a head, then survived a stewards’ inquiry in the $81,975 Sunny Slope Stakes.

Claimed by Stute for $50,000 out of a 7 1/2-length maiden win, the 2-year-old son of Lord Carson completed the six furlongs in 1:09.51 under Kent Desormeaux.

The colt’s owner, Sam Longo, died Thursday night at 96.