Perfect Drift Tightens Up for Belmont Stakes

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Hours before his fellow sophomores squared off in the Preakness, Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Perfect Drift began his serious training for the Belmont Stakes with a five-furlong work at the Trackside training center in Louisville. The Dynaformer gelding completed the drill in 1:00 2/5, handily, on a fast track.

"He did everything right," said trainer Murray Johnson. "He came home in :23-and-change and did it real easy. We weren't really looking for a lot."

The Lane's End Spiral Stakes winner worked under Joe Deegan.

"Joe says he really just does it all by himself, he really doesn't have to do anything," said Johnson. "He knows the routine and he's doing it as planned."

Johnson said he plans to work Perfect Drift every Saturday leading up to the 1 1/2-mile third jewel of the Triple Crown.

"We'll do a real strong gallop during the week -- like a two-mile gallop with a 'two-minute lick' in the second mile," he said. "We'll do that through the week each week and then we'll work a nice five-eighths on Saturday. We might go three-quarters next time."

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