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.