Multiple Grade 1 star EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck), prepping for the
September 6 Pacific Classic (G1), drilled four furlongs in a bullet :48 2/5 over
the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Monday. It was the co-fastest of 43
moves at this distance.
The Helen Pitts-Blasi charge is scheduled to ship to Del Mar next Monday, and
regular rider Julien
Leparoux has the call for the $1 million Pacific Classic.
A versatile seven-year-old, Einstein has won graded stakes on dirt, turf and
synthetic surfaces while amassing more than $2.7 million in earnings. The last
time the nearly black stallion raced on synthetic, he captured the Santa Anita
H. (G1) on March 7.
Next time out, Einstein won his second straight Woodford Reserve Turf Classic
(G1) at his home base of Churchill Downs. When trying to win his first Grade 1
on dirt, he finished a troubled third in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) beneath the
Twin Spires. Einstein then reverted to turf for the August 8 Arlington Million
(G1), where he wound up fifth.
In other Pacific Classic news:
Two Grade 1-winning contenders for Del Mar’s signature event turned in major
moves over the Polytrack.
Last year’s Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) hero, MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast), traveled
six furlongs in 1:13. Fourth as the defending champion in the Gold Cup two back,
the Bobby Frankel charge was just caught late in the San Diego H. (G2) last time
out.
GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter), who upset the grassy Eddie Read (G1) two
back, completed his trial at the same distance in 1:17. The A.C. Avila charge
used the six-furlong Bing Crosby (G1) as his Pacific Classic prep, finishing a
respectable third.