Oak Tree at Santa Anita

Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan, winner of the Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park in her most recent start, continued her preparation for a second bid for the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) with a five furlong workout on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

The Robert Holthus-trained 4-year-old daughter of Pure Prize breezed five furlongs in a strong 1:00.40 over a “fast” track under exercise rider Steve Schmelzel.  The move ranked as the seventh-fastest of 39 moves at the distance.  Pure Clan covered the distance in fractional times of :12.60, :24.80 and :36.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.80.

“This was her final major work,” said Holthus.  “We’ll probably just let her do something easy Sunday morning before she gets on the plane on Monday.  It looks like she came out of her work good, so we hope we’ll get a decent post, a clean trip and a little more luck than last year.”

The consistent Pure Clan turned in an uncharacteristically poor effort in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which was run at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, as it will be for this year’s running on Friday, Nov. 6.  She finished last of 10 fillies and mares behind champion Forever Together in that race, but has returned this year with a strong campaign in which she has compiled a record of 2-1-1 in four races.  She also won the Modesty (GIII) and finished third to Dynaforce in the Beverly D. (GI), both at Arlington Park, before overcoming soft turf to win the Flower Bowl on Oct. 3.

“She’s more mature and has been very lightly raced this year,” Holthus said.  “She’s going into the race pretty fresh.”

Pure Clan will have a new jockey in the Breeders’ Cup race as regular rider Julien Leparoux is committed to ride Forever Together.   Garrett Gomez will be in the saddle aboard Holthus’ filly on Breeders’ Cup Day.

   The work by Pure Clan occurred just after the mid-session break for track maintenance on a cloudy, cool morning at Churchill Downs.
    
EINSTEIN HEADS WEST FOR BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC BID – A short time before Pure Clan’s work, Stronach Stable’s Einstein climbed aboard a van for the short ride to Louisville International Airport, where he caught a flight to California for the Breeders’ Cup.

Trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi’s two-time winner of Churchill Downs’ Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI), 2009 Santa Anita Handicap (GI) and the 2008 Clark Handicap (GII) is set to run in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), a race that could be the last on-track appearance by the 7-year-old, Brazilian-bred son of 1985 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Spend a Buck.

Einstein has a career record of 11-4-3 in 28 races with earnings of $2,903,324.

CHURCHILL DOWNS FALL MEET OPENS SUNDAY – Churchill Downs’ 21-day Fall meet opens on Sunday, Nov. 1 with the first of two “Stars of Tomorrow” racing programs that are restricted to races exclusively for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds.

The 11-race program, topped by the $100,000-added Iroquois Stakes (GIII) and Pocahontas Stakes (GIII), has a post time of 12:40 p.m. (all times EST).  The Fall Meet will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Sharing the spotlight with the racing on opening day is the 2010 Churchill Downs Calendar Giveaway sponsored by Humana.  The first 5,000 fans through the admission gates on Sunday will receive a copy of the calendar.

Also on Sunday, Churchill Downs will unveil its new “Daybreak at the Downs,” an early morning insider’s look at Churchill Downs racing and workouts hosted by racing analyst Jill Byrne.  “Daybreak at the Downs” will be held each Sunday of the meet from 8-10 a.m in the Churchill Downs Clubhouse sections 117-118.  Admission is free, as is coffee, milk and donuts for all of those attending the weekly sessions.

“Daybreak at the Downs” fans should park in the Gate 10 Longfield Ave. parking lot and enter the track though Gate 10.

Also set for opening day is the first “Who’s the Champ? Handicapping Contest” in the Churchill Downs Champions Club Lounge.

Events are also scheduled for kids every Saturday and Sunday of the Fall Meet in Churchill Downs’ “Junior Jockey Club,” which is located just inside of Gate 10.

WORK TAB (Main track: FAST) – Brassy Boy, third in the Bashford Manor (GIII) and a contender for Sunday’s opening day Iroquois (GIII), breezed five furlongs in 1:03 for trainer Hal Wiggins.

Stronach Stable’s Einstein, one of the top American hopes for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, zipped a fast five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Oct. 25 in the veteran star’s final pre-race training move over his home track.

Jockey Julien Leparaoux was aboard the seven-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Spend A Buck as he covered the distance over a “fast” track in :59.80 under jockey Julien Leparoux.  The work by the Brazlian-bred star was the fastest of 54 at the distance and was accomplished in the company of a pair of 2-year-old stablemates from the barn of trainer Helen Pitts.

Einstein was timed in fractions of :23.80 and :36, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80.  After he passed his workmates Einstein took aim on another horse that happened to be working in front of him during his run through the stretch.

“We started about three or four lengths behind, but I caught them at the three-eighths pole and he finished very strong to the wire,” said Leparoux.  “It was perfect.  It was a very nice breeze.  He is strong and he’s going to be ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

“I just wanted to give him something to keep him interested,” said Pitts of her decision to send Einstein out with workmates.  “He works good on his own, but he gets bored doing it.  He likes being able to run at something in the mornings – he likes clocking something and running past them.  I thought he would get a better work out of it, and it gives him a lot more interest.  When he gets to about the quarter pole he loves bearing down and running by somebody.”

Pitts said Einstein would leave for California on Tuesday and would have only one major work over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

“I just wanted him to have a good, fun, happy breeze today,” Pitts said.  “When he gets out there he’ll just have an easy half.  The hard part is done now.”

The versatile Einstein won the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap (GI) over the Pro-Ride footing earlier this year and has won the last two renewals of Churchill Downs’ Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI).  He rolled to an easy victory last fall in the Clark Handicap (GII) over traditional dirt at Churchill Downs and was a troubled third behind Macho Again in this year’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at the Louisville track.

  Einstein, who was purchased this summer by Stronach Stables, will attempt to snap a three-race losing streak in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  He was edged by Richard’s Kid in his most recent start in the Pacific Classic (GI) over synthetic Polytrack  footing at Del Mar.

“I’m excited about it,” said Pitts.  “Why not take a shot at it?  He likes that track out there and who knows?   Every Grade I in this country is tough, let alone the Breeders’
Cup, but if anybody deserves a shot, he does.  I think he’s tough right now.  He’s matured a lot and I think he’s doing great now.”

Pitts’ star has a career record of 11-4-3 in 28 races and has earned $2,903,324.

Einstein is one of 10 horses that Leparoux is scheduled to ride in the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 6-7.

"He loves the game – he loves to run,” Leparoux said of his Classic mount.  “He’ll always give 110 percent – that’s one of the great things about riding him.”

FIELDS TAKE SHAPE FOR IROQUOIS, POCAHONTAS ON ‘STARS OF TOMORROW’ OPENING DAY PROGRAM – Rosters of promising young stars are forming to compete in the Iroquois and Pocahontas Stakes, the $100,000-added Grade III events that will headline the “Stars of Tomorrow” program of races for 2-year-olds that will open Churchill Downs’ 21-day Fall Meet on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Likely contenders for the 41st running of the one-mile Pocahontas include Cradle Stakes winner Gleam of Hope; Piscitelli, third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII); Three Day Rush, winner of Monmouth Park’s NATC Futurity; Razorback Futurity winner Comedero; Brassy Boy, third in the Bashford Manor (GIII); Call Shot; Callide Valley; Soaring Empire and You Already Know.

Westrock Stable’s Debutante (GIII) winner Decelerator, Bassinet winner All About Anna; Adirondack (GII) runner-up Sassy Image, and unbeaten Miss Indiana Stakes winner Running Bride top the list of likely starters in the one-mile Pocahontas for 2-year-old fillies.

Others include All Due Respect, Biorra, Gold Dust Lady, Happy Week, Snap Happy and Tidal Pool.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Ruffian (GI) winner Swift Temper breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Dale Romans … Debutante (GIII) winner Decelerator, a candidate for next week’s $100,000-added Pocahontas (GIII), breezed four furlongs in :48.80 … Flying Pegasus breezed three furlongs in :38 … Indygo Mountain worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 … Kentucky Cup Classic (GII) runner-up Dubious Miss breezed five furlongs in 1:00.