Trainer Murray Johnson said Perfect Drift, who will be participating in the Classic for a record fifth time, was "on the muscle" during the workout."He went off good, stayed even, and finished up good," Johnson said. "All we can do is wait a week and put him in the gate. He always did everything very easily and without any effort. Over the years, he has become more professional. He almost knows what we're doing." Perfect Drift, who finished a fast-closing second in the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) in his last start, will be ridden by Garrett Gomez. Owned by Dr. William A. Reed, who bred him in his Stonecrest Farm name, Perfect Drift has bankrolled over $4.6 million in his career as he has logged 11 victories, with 13 seconds, and six thirds from 41 starts.
Perfect Drift, the old warrior who finished third in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), turned in his final prep for this year's 1 1/4-mile race with a five-furlong workout Oct. 28 at Churchill Downs' Trackside training center in Louisville.With jockey Joe Deegan aboard, the 7-year-old gelded son of Dynaformer was timed in 1:02 2/5 for the five-eighths mile work over a track labeled good. With fractional splits of :12 3/5, :25 1/5, and :37 3/5, he galloped out six furlongs in 1:16 2/5."He's probably as good as he's ever been coming into the race," Deegan said. "He feels like he did four years ago. He tells you when he's ready. He's just kind of skipping around and having fun out there."
