2009 Santa Anita Handicap - Einstein

son of Spend a Buck is also a three-time grade I winner on turf. He went over the $2 million mark in career earnings with the victory for trainer Helen Pitts and Bill Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr.'s Midnight Cry Stable. The winning time for the 1 1/4-mile event was 2:01.93 over the Pro-Ride racing surface. "It's an unbelievable feeling," an emotional PItts said after becoming the first female trainer to win the Santa Anita Handicap "He means so much to me. It's my biggest win." Einstein found a perfect stalking position in fourth place on the outside as lukewarm 9-2 favorite Matto Mondo, pushed along by Cowboy Cal, carved slow fractions into the stretch. Einstein, advancing on the outside, struck the lead approaching the eighth pole and opened a clear advantage under urging, holding Champs Elysees and Jose Valdivia Jr. safe in deep stretch. I got a good trip. I got him covered up, and the race went like we expected," Leparoux said. "I expected Johnny (Velazquez on Cowboy Cal) and Rafael (Bejarano on Matto Mondo) to go. I expected to be third or fourth. I came running on the last turn, and we made a good run at the finish. "Jose Valdivias horse (Champs Elysees) came flying at the end. But we had to make a move when we did. And I think if we could have waited a little longer, we would have won much easier than that. He handled the Pro-Ride surface just fine. Hes a good horse on the turf. Hes a good horse on the dirt. Hes a good horse on anything. Matto Mondo, with Rafael Bejarano aboard, finished a neck back in third with the outsider Monba fourth. Thirteen horses, after the scratch of morning line favorite Colonel John, competed. Blue Exit, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, was pulled up on the far turn and was taken off the track by van. Track officials told Associated Press that the 4-year-old Pulpit colt was later euthanized due to his injuries. Jockey Robby Albarado was not injured. The first two finishers have enjoyed most of their success on grass, although Einstein won the Clark Handicap (gr. II) on the Churchill Downs main track last November. Einstein came into the Big 'Cap off a third-place finish in Gulfstream Park's Donn Handicap (gr. I) Jan. 31 and had taken to the Pro-Ride in the mornings, according to Pitts. "He (Julien Leparoux) rode him absolutely beautiful," said Pitts, a former assistant to Ken McPeek who has trained Einstein for his entire career. "Theyre a great team, those two. Its an unbelievable feeling. It just means the world to me. He was very comfortable with this track from the time he got here. I worked him on the grass, and I galloped him on the grass, and he felt very similar on the Pro-Ride." Pitts said she would consider returning to Santa Anita for a crack at the Breeders' Cup at Oak Tree Nov. 6 and 7. "It certainly is an option," she said. "Wed have to supplement him, but obviously, after today, its worth doing it. Einstein won his 10th career race -- his sixth stakes victory -- in 24 starts and increased his earnings to $2,278,020 with the winner's share of $600,000. The dark bay horse, bred by Fazenda Mondesir, is out of Gay Charm, by Ghadeer. The high weight at 121 pounds, Einstein paid $12, $7, and $4.60 as the third choice in the large field. The $2 exacta with Champs Elysees, who ran third in last year's Santa Anita Handicap, yet was dismissed at 27-1, was worth $225.80.

Author: partymanners
Keywords: santa anita horse racing handicap einstein helen pitts trevor denman julian leparoux cowboy cal monba champs elysees
Added: March 8, 2009

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