By George Rorrer
Enquirer contributor

FLORENCE, Ky. - Handicapper Mike Battaglia made Bob Baffert-trained Congaree a 4-5 favorite Thursday to beat Murray Johnson-trained Perfect Drift and win the 10th Kentucky Cup Classic horse race Saturday at Turfway Park.

Post time for the first of 10 live and four simulcast races of the Kenmtucky Cup Day of Champions is 1:10 p.m. Post time for the Classic, which will be televised by Fox Sports Net, is 5:37 p.m. Completing the card will be four simulcast turf races from sister track Kentucky Downs.

Battaglia said he expects 8-1 Crafty Shaw to set the early pace in the five-horse race, but he predicted that Congaree and 6-5 Perfect Drift will turn it into a two-horse war down the home stretch and Congaree will win at the wire.

"I can't wait," Battaglia said. "They are evenly matched. It's a small field, but it's a a quality field. Either Congaree or Perfect Drift could be among the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Classic (Oct. 5 at Santa Anita)."

Congaree, a 5-year-old chestnut, has won four of six starts this year, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (grade I), the Carter Handicap (Grade I), San Antonio Handicap (Grade I) and San Pascual Handicap (Grade II), and was second in the Santa Anita Handicap (Grade I) in a photo finish.

Perfect Drift won last year's Lane's End Spiral Stakes (Grade II) at Turfway, then finished third in the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) behind War Emblem and Proud Citizen. Perfect Drift won the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs and the Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park.

Baffert said he is training Congaree with the Breeders' Cup in mind, but Perfect Drift wasn't nominated.

Edgar Prado will ride Congaree for the first time. Pat Day will ride Perfect Drift.

Completing the field for the Kentucky Cup Classic will be Even the Score at 12-1 and MB Sea at 15-1. Congaree is top-weighted at 124 pounds. Perfect Drift will carry 120, and Crafty Shaw and Even the Score will tote 115 each, and MB Sea 113.