Perfect Drift had his second three-furlong work at Santa Anita March 31 for trainer Richard Mandella. The 9-year-old earner of $4,680,691 clocked :37 flat on Santa Anita's synthetic surface and appears eager to get back to the races.
Fred Bradley's Brass Hat, winner of the Donn Handicap (gr. I) in 2006, is a slight favorite over Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, winner of the 2003 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), on Sunday's closing day of the 52-day spring meet.
Entered in this year's Breeders' Cup Championships is a horse who has not let the increasing years of his life affect his racing career. Perfect Drift, still going strong at age 7, has aged like fine wine, continuing to post impressive efforts as Nov. 4 rapidly approaches.
Trainers Murray Johnson (Perfect Drift) and Eddie Kenneally (Bushfire and Kelly's Landing) will be guests of the Louisville Thoroughbred Club at its Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Celebration.
Tracy Farmer's Sun King, runner-up in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, breezed a strong five furlongs Saturday at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), which will be run at the Louisville track on Nov. 4.
Garrett Gomez, who rode two Breeders' Cup World Championship winners last year at Belmont Park, has been named to ride Perfect Drift in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), trainer Murray Johnson said Tuesday.
When the dust settles following Saturday's major stakes, we could be saluting the geriatric set if 8-year-old The Tin Man and 7-year-olds Perfect Drift and Meteor Storm come away with victories in their respective races.
When the dust settles following this weekend's major stakes, we could be saluting the geriatric set if 8-year-old The Tin Man and 7-year-olds Perfect Drift and Meteor Storm come away with victories in their respective races.
When the dust settles following Saturday's major stakes, we could be saluting the geriatric set if 8-year-old The Tin Man and 7-year-olds Perfect Drift and Meteor Storm come away with victories in their respective races.
In an unusual move, the chairman of the California Horse Racing Board has issued a statement defending the credibility of the state's drug-testing mechanism and praising the efforts of Lava Man in Sunday's Pacific Classic (gr. I).
Trainer Murray Johnson reported Sunday that his father, Geoffrey, is recovering well at Scripps Hospital in Encinitas following a heart attack on Friday afternoon at the Del Mar racetrack.
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift looks to become the first horse to win the Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) three times on Saturday at Arlington Park.
Stonecrest Farm's 7-year-old Perfect Drift will make his season debut in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race over the turf Thursday at Keeneland.
The new year has begun, and all across the country, 3-year-olds are preparing for the grueling march to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The horses that remain from last year's classic crop are just beginning their journey to the Breeders' Cup. But the main headlines should belong to Proven Cure, who truly is the star of the year so far.
Perfect Drift, pre-entered in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Powered by Dodge (gr. I), breezed five furlongs at the 'sloppy' Churchill Downs Training Center in 1:01 1/5 Saturday morning.
Perfect Drift, who shipped in from Kentucky on Monday, met the Del Mar track for the first time since last year by jogging and galloping with a pony over the strip Wednesday morning in preparation for Sunday's Pacific Classic (gr. I).
Perfect Drift, a millionaire three times over, hadn't won a stakes in 22 months. But thanks to an aggressive move by jockey Mark Guidry, the 6-year-old gelding brought his drought to an end in the $300,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) Saturday.
Third in the 2002 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). A thrilling win over 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft in that year's Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I). Ten wins--six in graded stakes--and earnings of more than $3 million. On the board in 22 of 30 trips to the post. Strong credentials, to be sure.
With a trip to California for Saturday's Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) scrubbed because of a minor eye problem, trainer Murray Johnson has listed the $300,000-added Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) at Arlington Park as the next start for veteran star Perfect Drift.
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I)) Saturday at Lone Star Park, returned to the track on Thursday at Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville training center to prepare for the $500,000-added Clark Handicap (gr. II) on Nov. 26.
The $750,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) figured to be the remedy for Perfect Drift and trainer Murray Johnson, both winless in 2004. Perfect Drift looked the best on paper and was sent off at odds of 1-2. But after being part of the pace duel early, Perfect Drift didn't offer much response when Freefourinternet, at 27-1, came from far out of it to swoop by the field for a 1 3/4-length victory.
Perfect Drift, winner of last year's Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II), appears ready to return to the winner's circle for this year's edition of the 1 1/4-mile race.
Last year's winner of the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) at Turfway Park, Perfect Drift, will not return to defend his title, trainer Murray Johnson said Monday morning after Perfect Drift finished a five-furlong work in 1:03 3/5 at Trackside in Louisville. Joe Deegan was aboard for the work.
Perfect Drift, who turned in a dynamite second-place performance in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga last weekend, could be headed for the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) Aug. 22 at Del Mar, too.
Roses that bloomed a little later than in May left trainer Dale Romans handing out bouquets of praise following Saturday's $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) in Iowa.
Grade I winner Perfect Drift leads a field of six in Saturday's $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III).
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, winner of the 2003 Stephen Foster Handicap and third to Colonial Colony in this year's renewal of the grade I race, continues his rapid recovery from throat surgery and is scheduled to return to training early
next week.
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, an upset winner over eventual Horse of the Year Mineshaft in last year's running of the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), will face some of the toughest handicap rivals in American racing when he bids for a second consecutive victory in Saturday's $750,000-added event at Churchill Downs.
A strong five-furlong work on Saturday by Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift has trainer Murray Johnson looking forward to the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 12, his gelding's bid for a second consecutive victory in Churchill Downs' premier race for older horses.
If American racegoers loved the true grit Australasian filly Happyanunoit displayed a few years back when she was sent to race in the U.S., they will go crazy when they see Australian sensation Special Harmony.
Perfect Drift, the winner of Churchill Downs' $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) will not race again in 2003 following last week's disappointing sixth-place finish behind Pleasantly Perfect in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
Stonecrest Farm's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Perfect Drift, Select Stable's Distaff (gr. I) hope Take Charge Lady, and Team Valor's Juvenile (gr. I) hopeful Tiger Hunt each worked five furlongs in dense fog at Churchill Downs Saturday morning in their last training moves before they fly to California to compete in the Breeders' Cup at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Oct. 25.
Perfect Drift turned in a sharp 5-furlong work in 1:01 1/5 at Trackside Training Center Saturday morning, in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I). Gary Stevens has been named to ride the son of Dynaformer.
Perfect Drift edged away from Tenpins in the stretch to win Sunday's $750,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) on opening day at the Illinois track, but his trainer remained doubtful about a run in the Breeders's Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) Oct. 25 at Santa Anita.
Multiple graded stakes winner Perfect Drift is a clear standout in a six-horse field for Sunday's 67th running of the $750,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) at Hawthorne Race Course.
Although many will have the tendency to dismiss Congaree in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) after being outkicked by Perfect Drift in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II), the son of Arazi cannot be blamed for the defeat.
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, with Pat Day in the irons, handled favored Congaree with surprising ease in Saturday's $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) at Turfway Park.
Stonerside Stable's Congaree, an earner of more than $2.7 million and winner last out of the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), was installed the 4-5 morning line choice for Saturday's Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) at Turfway Park.
Trainer Murray Johnson is 100 percent confident in the abilities of Perfect Drift to copy his grade I winning dirt form to the turf for Saturday's Arlington Million (gr. IT) at Arlington Park.
Stonecrest Farm's homebred Perfect Drift burst from the pack in mid-stretch for an impressive five-length victory in the $400,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) on Saturday at Arlington Park.
Trainer Murray Johnson said Perfect Drift's first race since his June 14 victory over Mineshaft in the Stephen Foster (gr. I) would come at Arlington Park on July 19 in the $400,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. II).
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, an upset winner over Mineshaft in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), turned in his first work since that race with an easy five-furlong breeze on Saturday at Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville Training Center.
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, winner of last week's $750,000-added Stephen Foster (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, will most likely be heading to Hollywood Park for his next race.
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, who edged heavily favored Mineshaft in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), will get a little time to relax after the biggest win of his career. After that, the sky's the limit, says trainer Murray Johnson.
Turns out Perfect Drift was carrying just a tad more than his assigned 115 pounds at Churchill Downs June 14 in the $856,500 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I). Tucked under the saddlecloth beneath Pat Day was a six-inch braid of hair made from John Henry's tail.
Grade I winners Aldebaran and Mineshaft expected to headline Saturday's contest at Churchill Downs, while Pat Day now has the mount on Perfect Drift.
Perfect Drift, the third place finisher in the 2002 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), breezed an easy half-mile Saturday at Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville training center and trainer Murray Johnson said the Dynaformer gelding appears ready for a likely run in next Saturday's $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I).
Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, third in the 2002 Kentucky Derby, continued his impressive training toward a possible run in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) with a sharp six furlong breeze Saturday at Trackside Louisville.
While trainer Mike Tomlinson will be saddling his first Kentucky Derby starter, he's no stranger to Churchill Downs--the former Oklahoman has been on the Kentucky circuit since 1996.
A recurrence of a foot infection knocked Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift out of Friday's $400,000-added Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs and has ended the season for the third-place finisher in this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
