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Perfect Drift headlines Breeders' Cup worktab

Perfect Drift will go in his fifth Breeders' Cup Classic on November 4 (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) At Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville Training Center on Saturday, Grade 1 veteran PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer) worked five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 on the fast track with regular work rider Joe Deegan in the saddle. Most recently second in the Kentucky Cup Classic S. (G2) at Turfway Park, the Murray Johnson charge will be lining up in the November 4 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) for an unprecedented fifth straight year. Perfect Drift checked in third in last year's Classic. "He finished up great in the last quarter, which was all we were looking for," Johnson said, adding that he believes his seven-year-old charge is coming into the Classic in better shape than he was last year. "Last fall, he was still walking after the Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2), because he walked for three weeks after that (fourth-place finish in the slop) and only trained for two weeks before the Breeders' Cup," the horseman noted. "This year, he was in great shape coming off the Polytrack (at Turfway), and we've been able to train him steadily and keep him happy. It's going well so far."

Perfect Drift has four seconds from six outings in 2006, including a near-miss in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) at Churchill and a distant runner-up effort in the Washington Park H. (G2) at Arlington Park. Garrett Gomez will ride him for the first time in the Classic.

Track record-setting Washington Park hero SUAVE (A.P. Indy), who is currently on the bubble for the Classic, drilled one mile over Churchill Downs' fast track in 1:39 1/5 beneath jockey Calvin Borel.  The Paul McGee trainee was a disappointing last of 10 in the Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga in his latest.

"He's doing really good," McGee said. "He galloped out strongly after the mile breeze, and Calvin said he's dead fit."

If Suave winds up skipping the Classic, he would aim for the November 24 Clark H. (G1), also at Churchill.

Trainer Nick Zito sent out several of his Breeders' Cup hopefuls for works.

Classic contender SUN KING (Charismatic), a multiple Grade 2 winner, traveled five panels in 1:01 3/5 beneath exercise rider Carlos Correa. The winner of the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. (G2) in April, Sun King lost two heartbreaking photo-finishes in the Metropolitan Mile (G1) and Whitney H. (G1). The four-year-old is exiting a third in the Woodward.

"He belongs in the Classic, for sure," Zito said. "He's one of the best horses (in the division) this year."

Zito also sent out Brooklyn Breeders' Cup H. (G2) victor WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold), who clocked 1:02, and Grade 3 king ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus), who strode in 1:03. In their latest ventures, the pair had finished second and third, respectively, to Bernardini (A.P. Indy) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Their next starts are undetermined.

Prepping for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Futurity S. (G2) runner-up C P WEST (Came Home) zipped in 1:01 for Zito.

Over the Polytrack at Keeneland, Grade 1 victor COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) blitzed a half-mile from the gate in a bullet :45 3/5, fastest of 44 at the distance. Exiting a subpar 10th in the Forego S. (G1), the Zito charge is looking to rebound in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Conditioner Dallas Stewart reports that his Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) runner LEMONS FOREVER (Lemon Drop Kid) turned in a "maintenance work" at Churchill on Saturday that was not listed on the official worktab. The chestnut's trainer caught her going a half-mile in about :50 with exercise rider Lee Guidry aboard.

"She's doing super," Stewart said. "She loves this track. She gets over it beautiful and she's bouncing around there. She cooled out great."

Gearing up for the Distaff (G1) on the synthetic surface at Hollywood Park, Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) heroine HEALTHY ADDICTION (Boston Harbor) worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5. The John Sadler mare captured the Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup H. (G2) in her most recent outing.

Grade 2 winner PRINCIPLE SECRET (Sea of Secrets), second by a neck in the Norfolk Breeders' Cup S. (G2) last out, breezed five-eighths in 1:01 3/5 in preparation for the Juvenile.

On the fast track at Santa Anita, multiple Grade 2 hero T. H. APPROVAL (With Approval), second by a head in the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. (G1) most recently, worked six furlongs in 1:12 2/5. The Eduardo Inda charge is targeting the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

Over Calder's fast track, multiple Grade 2 winner MIESQUE'S APPROVAL (Miesque's Son), a dead-heat fourth in the Shadwell Turf Mile S. (G1) last out, breezed four furlongs in :49 in advance of the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Trainer Marty Wolfson described the move as "just his usual work."

In other Breeders' Cup developments:

Arlington Million S. (G1) winner THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) has been withdrawn from consideration for the Turf. Last time out, the Richard Mandella veteran just held off T. H. Approval in the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship.

"He ran like his tank was starting to empty a little bit," Mandella told the Daily Racing Form. "I don't feel I've got him up to the level I've had him all year. I think the year has told on him a little bit."

Joining the Turf field is three-time Louisville H. (G3) victor SILVERFOOT (With Approval). The Stewart charge finished fifth when trying to defend his title in the recent Kentucky Cup Turf S. (G3) and came out of that contest with inflammation in a hoof.

"His right front foot was hot as a firecracker," Stewart explained. "We had to work on it and re-shoe him. He either hit something in the track or hit a hole -- it was real spongy that day. He didn't fire his race at all."

Princess Rooney H. (G1) heroine MALIBU MINT (Malibu Moon), successful in the Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G3) at Keeneland in her latest, is aiming for the Sprint.

The four-year-old filly is "doing so well, it's scary," conditioner Jim Chapman reports.

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