by Steve Schuelein
Einstein (Brz) will try to strengthen his claim as the nation’s leading handicap horse on Sunday in the $1-million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Del Mar.
A rare graded stakes winner on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces, the versatile seven-year-old Spend a Buck horse will attempt to rebound from a pair of losses under jockey Julien Leparoux in the 1¼-mile test. Einstein will break from post ten in the 12-horse field.
Einstein, who shipped in from Churchill Downs on Monday, hopes his second trip to California proves as successful as his first, when he won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 7 (video) in his initial try on synthetic.
“He loved Santa Anita and was phenomenal on it,” said trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi after posts were drawn Wednesday night at Inn L’Auberge in Del Mar. “I hope he likes this one.
“He shipped well and seems to be settling in okay. He jogged Tuesday and had a light gallop (Wednesday).”
Pitts-Blasi hopes for smoother sailing than in his last two starts, a third-place finish in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) on June 13 and a fifth-place finish in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1) on August 8.
“I like the post,” concluded the trainer. “I’d rather be on the outside than on the inside. It looks like there is some speed in there, and Julien will be able to determine where he wants to be.”
Colonel John was established as the 5-2 favorite on the morning line. In his most recent start, the four-year-old Tiznow colt returned from a seven-month layoff with a two-length, turf-debut victory in the Wickerr Stakes on July 31 (video).
Bobby Frankel will saddle his Grade 1-winning homebred Mast Track, who finished third in the 2008 edition of the race. The five-year-old Mizzen Mast horse will try to halt a seven-race winless stretch dating back to his win in the 2008 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1).
Awesome Gem, a six-year-old Awesome Again gelding, will make his third career start in the race after finishing second to Student Council in 2007 and seventh last year.
Rail Trip established himself as a top older horse in California this year with his three-length victory in the TVG/Betfair Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (G1) (video) in his most recent start on July 11.
Misremembered, the only three-year-old in the lineup, will carry 118 pounds after winning the Swaps Stakes (G2) (video) in his most recent start for trainer Bob Baffert. The others will each carry 124.
Other starters include Grade 1 winner Global Hunter (Arg), multiple graded stakes winner Parading, San Diego Handicap (G2) victor Informed (video), Grade 2 winner Tres Borrachos, multiple stakes winner Song of Navarone, and stakes winner Richard’s Kid.
Steve Schuelein is a California-based correspondent for Thoroughbred Times
Pacific Classic S.
For Equibase entries of Sunday's Del Mar card, click here.