Einstein Takes a Spin

Multiple Grade 1 winner EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck), widely regarded as the top American-based contender in Saturday's Arlington Million (G1), sent all the right signals in his first gallop on the turf course. Although it was a hot and sunny Wednesday morning, the turf still had considerable moisture in it from Monday's torrential rains.

With trainer Helen Pitts in the saddle, the striking dark bay was more than happy to break away from his lead pony on the backstretch and stride out at his own speed. Einstein soon settled into a comfortable rhythm, covering the ground with an easy fluency. He was capable of doing much more than what Pitts prescribed for his exercise, but he appeared relaxed, kind and well in hand throughout.

Back at the barn, Einstein struck a magnificent pose: tall, lengthy, but well-proportioned, he really fills the eye. Pitts jested that if they ever remake "The Black Stallion," Einstein would be a great candidate for the title role.

Einstein has a persona to match his movie-star looks. Pitts related that he is the “king of the barn” when home at Churchill Downs, but since shipping to Arlington on Monday, he's been too busy soaking up his new environs to be his usual handful. According to Pitts, the “very curious” Einstein is “fascinated" and "mesmerized” by his unfamiliar surroundings at Arlington.

It is remarkable how much he has physically changed since the only other time I'd seen him in person, way back on October 22, 2005, in his career debut at Keeneland. Bred in Brazil on Southern Hemisphere time, he was one day shy of his actual third birthday, and conceding a huge developmental advantage to his Northern Hemisphere-bred rivals in that maiden race. Even then, Einstein had a grand frame, but he needed to grow into it and strengthen up. While he wound up a non-threatening fifth in that about seven-furlong affair on Keeneland's old dirt track, he caught my attention on the gallop-out. Einstein kept going at a good clip for a long way past the wire, and well into the backstretch, before he finally pulled up. He looked like a promising sort, but who could have imagined the outstanding career that was to follow?

A two-time winner of the Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1), he has also captured the 2007 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) at Fair Grounds, defeating Million rival CLOUDY'S KNIGHT (Lord Avie), and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) at Churchill three starts back on Kentucky Derby Day. Einstein has finished an honorable second in his past two outings. Tackling the dirt in the Stephen Foster H. (G1), he beat everyone but Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) in a commendable effort on the surface switch. Einstein returned to the grass for the Firecracker H. (G2) last time out, and as discussed in my first blog entry on Monday, he did well in trying circumstances.

With such a resume, Einstein has a solid chance of becoming the first Southern Hemisphere-bred horse ever to win the Arlington Million. Two South American-breds have come close – Algenib (Arg), who just missed by a head to Tight Spot in 1991, and the flashy chestnut Sandpit (Brz), who placed three straight years, coming closest when going down by a half-length to Marlin in 1997.