Bailey to Ride Pleasantly Perfect in Two Classics

Edited from Del Mar reports
Trainer Richard Mandella reported Monday morning that he has an agreement from Jerry Bailey to ride Pleasantly Perfect in Del Mar's grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic and the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I). However, the ride in Sunday's grade II, $250,000 San Diego Handicap is still open, the trainer said.

Bailey replaces the injured Alex Solis, who had ridden the 6-year-old son of 1981 Kentucky Derby champion Pleasant Colony in his last eight starts, a stretch that included victories in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic and the 2004 Dubai World Cup. Solis suffered a broken vertebra in his back and three broken ribs in a one-horse spill Friday.

Bailey has ridden twice in the Pacific Classic and finished second both times, most notably aboard Cigar in 1996, ending that horse's 16-race winning streak. Ironically, it was Solis and Mandella who combined to seize the victory that day with Dare And Go. In 2003, Bailey was aboard runner-up Medaglia d'Oro to Candy Ride.

Mandella said Pleasantly Perfect, whose career record shows eight wins in 15 career starts and purse earnings of $6,699,880, is doing just fine as he heads toward the San Diego.

Firmed up to take on Pleasantly Perfect in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego are Choctaw Nation from the Jeff Mullins barn, Bob Baffert's During and defending champion Taste of Paradise, trained by Molly Pearson. Considered possible for the race are Snorter, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 for the Robert Frankel barn; another Frankel trainee, Nose the Trade, and Decorador, Night Patrol and Reba's Gold.

In another matter, Mandella said The Tin Man, who worked a sharp seven furlongs this morning in 1:26.80, is being primed for the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap on the seaside track's turf course on Sunday, Aug. 29.