Lava Man, Surf Cat highlight 12-horse Pacific Classic

Lava Man will try on Saturday for his second straight Grade 1 score (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) and Swaps Breeders’
Cup S. (G2) victor SURF CAT (Sir Cat) are among the 12 horses entered for Sunday’s
15th running of the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1). Lava Man, who brings a
three-race winning skein into the 1 1/4-mile event, has been listed as the 9-5
favorite on the morning line and the Doug O’Neill-trained four-year-old will be
ridden by Patrick Valenzuela.

Surf Cat is the 3-1 second choice and the late-blooming sophomore has drawn
comparisons to Tiznow, who came from practically nowhere to earn Horse of the
Year honors at three in 2000. Trained by Bruce Headley, Surf Cat earned his
first stakes win when recording an impressive five-length triumph in the Swaps
and will attempt to become the third three-year-old, following in the hoofsteps
of Best Pal (1991) and General Challenge (1999), to win Del Mar’s centerpiece
event. Alex Solis rides.

Other top contenders include Grade 1 winner and $3.4 million earner PERFECT
DRIFT (Dynaformer), who exits a sharp 4 1/4-length tune-up in Arlington’s
Washington Park H. (G2). The six-year-old gelding finished a good second to
Pleasantly Perfect in last year’s Pacific Classic but must overcome the far
outside post position in 2005. CHOCTAW NATION (Louis Quatorze), who recorded his
second straight victory in the San Diego H. (G2) on July 24, drew a much better
gate (post 2) and likes the track. The Jeff Mullins trainee’s only stakes
wins have come at Del Mar.