Thoughts and observations on Churchill Downs’ 2008 Fall Meet from high atop the clubhouse in the sixth floor Joe Hirsch Media Center . . .
It was great to see multiple Grade I-winning turf star Einstein-BRZ prove his worth over dirt for trainer Helen Pitts with a convincing 1 ½-length victory in the Grade II Clark Handicap. The 6-year-old stuck close to odds-on favorite Commentator, put that rival away in upper stretch and held off a late charge from Delightful Kiss.
For several days leading up to the race, it looked as if Einstein-BRZ would not be allowed to run in the Clark due to the complicated legal woes of Midnight Cry Stables’ William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. However, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission granted an owner’s license to Matthew L. Garretson, whose ran the horse under his name as a court-appointed receiver. In turn, the owner’s share of the $267,589 earned by Einstein will go toward settling a $42 million judgment in a class-action lawsuit against Gallion and Cunningham. . . .
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Delightful Kiss, who was far, far back in the early stages of the race, was probably given too much to do in the stretch. Much to the dismay of trainer Pete Anderson, he trailed by as many as 17 lengths and finished with a fury. . . .
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Commentator, who trained brilliantly and looked spectacular at Churchill Downs this spring, didn’t look like the same horse when he stepped onto the track for the Clark Handicap. He appeared “washy” on raceday and ran like it. With 13 wins from 21 starts and more than $1.8 million in career earnings, the 7-year-old gelding is one of the finest horses we’ve seen this decade.
.JPG "Einstein Wins Clark Handicap")