Stonerside Stable's Congaree has been assigned 124 pounds for Turfway Park's Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) to be run Saturday. The nine-time stakes winner and earner of more than $2.7 million has been asked to spot four pounds to his nearest rival, Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) winner Perfect Drift.
Congaree, who is trained by Bob Baffert is expected to start in the 1 1/8-mile test as a prep for the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. A homebred son of Arazi, out of the Mari's Book mare Mari's Sheba, Congaree has been a model of consistency in four years on the race track. The 5-year-old chestnut has won 11 of 20 starts and has placed five other times.
This year, Congaree has won four of six starts including the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), Carter Handicap (gr. I), San Antonio Handicap (gr. II), and San Pasqual Handicap (gr. II). He finished second in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in a photo finish to Milwaukee Brew.
Dr. William A. Reed's homebred Perfect Drift returns to Turfway off a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Arlington Million (gr. IT). The son of Dynaformer won last year's Lane's End Spiral Stakes (gr. II) over the Turfway surface prior to running third behind War Emblem and Proud Citizen in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
In a pair of main-track handicaps this year, Perfect Drift defeated Mineshaft in the nine-furlong Stephen Foster while toting 115 pounds (getting eight pounds) and won the 1 3/16-miles Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) while carrying 120 at Arlington.
Perfect Drift has won seven of 15 career starts and has earned more than $1.5 million.
Balto Star, who finished second in the Kentucky Cup Classic in 2001 was weighted at 118 pounds. He is not expected to run since the son of Glitterman ran fourth in Saturday's Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.
Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II), Turfway Park, Saturday, Sept. 13, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up, $200,000.Horse, Wt.
Congaree, 124
Perfect Drift, 120
Balto Star, 118
Bowman's Band, 116
Northern Rock, 116
Pass Rush, 116
Changeintheweather, 115
Crafty Shaw, 115
Even the Score, 115
Jersey Giant, 115
Proud Citizen, 114
Rock Slide, 114
Hard Buck, 113
M B Sea, 113
Woodmoon, 113
Be Like Mike, 112
Cat Tracker, 112
Free of Love, 112
Sonic West, 112
