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Einstein showcases versatility in Clark Not assured of being allowed to start in Friday's $440,400 Clark H. (G2) until licensing issues involving his owner were resolved, multiple Grade 1 winner EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck) could very easily have not made the post-Thanksgiving party at Churchill Downs. Campaigned previously by Midnight Cry Stable, whose legal difficulties prevented him from racing in other jurisdictions such as New York this year, Einstein eventually made it to the starting gate as the charge of Matthew Garretson, receiver. Tracking in second behind the heavy 2-5 choice Commentator (Distorted Humor), Einstein challenged that rival at the quarter-pole and drew off late for a convincing 1 1/2-length score under Julien Leparoux, who earlier in the day set a new riding record for most winners at a Churchill fall meet. The near 5-1 second choice in a field of seven, Einstein returned $11.80, $5.20 and $2.60 while keying the $118.40 exacta, $279.20 trifecta and $865 superfecta (3-1-4-2). Winning time for nine furlongs over a fast track was 1:49 3/5. Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris), the Pete Anderson-trained gray who lagged in last through the opening half-mile, turned in a sustained rally to finish second best, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Commentator. The 14-1 chance brought back $10.80 and $3.80. Commentator, who set a comfortable pace of :24 2/5, :48 2/5 and 1:12 3/5, simply had no answer for Einstein's powerful stretch kick and faded to third, returning the mandatory minimum of $2.10. Magna Graduate, who saved ground in third until the far turn, finished fourth in his career finale and was followed by Wayzata Bay (Roar), Dominican (El Corredor) and Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop). Timber Reserve (Forest Camp) was scratched. Trained by Helen Pitts, Einstein has been mostly known for his prowess on turf. A two-time winner of the Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1), the nearly black six-year-old also owns a close third-place performance in that event as well as a runner-up effort Maker's Mark Mile (G1). During the Churchill Downs spring meet, Einstein won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) by a length, than took a rare detour to the main track to finish a solid second to reigning Horse of the Year Curlin in the Stephen Foster H. (G1). Following a second in the one-mile Firecracker H. (G2) over the Churchill lawn, Einstein stumbled badly at the start of the Arlington Million (G1) and never reached contention when finishing three lengths back in fifth. With this initial graded stakes score on dirt, Einstein improved his record to 22-9-3-1 with earnings of $1,634,020. Bred by Fazenda Mondesir in Brazil, the winner is out of multiple Group 1 queen Gay Charm (Ghadeer), who is also the granddam of Brazilian Group 1 hero Istbestand (Much Better). Gay Charm is herself a daughter of 1981 Gran Premio Diana (Brz-G1) victress Virga (Waldmeister).
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