Einstein (October 23, 2002 – October 28, 2020) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in the United States.
Background Einstein was a dark bay or brown horse bred in Brazil by Fazenda Mondesir. He was sired by the 1985 American Horse of the Year, Spend A Buck. His dam, Gay Charm, was the 1988 Brazilian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. His damsire was Ghadeer, a son of Lyphard and an influential stallion in Brazil who sired twenty-five Group One winners.
When he was brought to the United States, Einstein's new owners entrusted his race conditioning to Helen Pitts, who had taken over their stable upon the retirement of Kenneth McPeek.
Racing career Einstein made his American debut on February 25, 2006, at Gulfstream Park in Florida, where he won the first of his two Gulfstream Park Turf Handicaps. He went on to wins that include races on three different track surfaces: the Turf Classic Stakes on turf and the Clark Handicap on dirt, both in 2008 at Churchill Downs, and in 2009, California's richest race, the Santa Anita Handicap on Pro-Ride synthetic dirt.http://www.ntra.com/races.aspx?id=36944
Einstein successfully defended his title in the Grade I Woodford Reserve-sponsored Turf Classic Stakes on May 2, 2009. on June 13 he was going for a world record, trying to be the first horse to win Grade 1 races on all three surfaces in the same year, first in the Santa Anita, then in the Woodford, and lastly on dirt in the race he got second in before, the Stephen Foster Handicap. In the Stephen Foster, he struggled to obtain a clear run and was repeatedly blocked before finishing third to Macho Again.
Next, he ran in the Arlington Million, a race he placed badly in 2008. He went up against the world's top turf horses, including American stars Gio Ponti and Presious Passion and International turf horses Gloria De Campeao (the French horse who placed second in the 2009 Dubai World Cup), Cima de Triomphe, and Stotsfold. Other American entries were Mr. Sidney, Just As Well, and Recapturetheglory, who placed fifth in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Einstein ran a bad race, and never showed the late kick he usually had, coming in sixth to rising star Gio Ponti.
On September 3, 2009, it was announced that Frank Stronach purchased the horse from Midnight Cry Stables.
Einstein ran in the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack in California but was beaten by a neck by longshot Richard's Kid. His next race was the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7. He had already won on the same track at the same distance over the same surface, but due to the entries of Rip Van Winkle and the top mare in the country Zenyatta, he was not a favorite. "It's the biggest race of his life, I want him to come in fresh," trainer Helen Pitts said . Einstein proved to be one of the major disappointments in the race, finishing 11th out of 12 runners.
On November 27 at Churchill Downs Einstein ran in the Grade II Clark Handicap and, carrying the high weight of the race, finished a game third after starting from the outside gate (14th Post Position) and being blocked in the stretch.
In 2006, Einstein was rated 117 (tied for 72nd) in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. In 2007, Einstein was rated 117 (tied for 79th) in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. In 2008, Einstein was rated 118 (tied for 80th) in the World Thoroughbred Rankings. In 2009, Einstein was rated 120 (tied for 43rd) in the World Thoroughbred Rankings.
Racing statistics + Einstein's Career Statistics Date Age Distance Surface Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Trainer Owner RefOct 22, 200537 furlongsDirtMaidenMaiden Special WeightKeeneland4.701:28.07125(14 lengths)Rafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableNov 6, 200531 mileDirtMaidenMaiden Special WeightChurchill Downs2.40*1:36.98915 lengthsRafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableNov 25, 200531 milesTurfAllowanceAllowanceChurchill Downs9.901:43.44124(2 lengths)Rafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableJan 7, 200631 milesTurfAllowanceAllowanceGulfstream Park5.301:45.84121 lengthRafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableFeb 4, 200631 milesDirtAllowanceAllowanceGulfstream Park1.60*1:49.36917 lengthsRafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableFeb 25, 200631 milesTurfGulfstream Park Breeders' Cup StakesG1Gulfstream Park7.202:23.9181NeckRafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableApr 1, 200631 milesTurfPan American HandicapG2Gulfstream Park2.602:24.3584(4 lengths)Rafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableMay 6, 200631 milesTurfWoodford Reserve Turf Classic StakesG1Churchill Downs15.801:47.15104(1 lengths)Rafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableJan 31, 200741 mileTurfAllowanceAllowance Optional ClaimingGulfstream Park1.40*1:33.9784(4 lengths)Rafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableFeb 24, 200741 milesTurfGulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf StakesG1Gulfstream Park3.602:12.28113( length)Rafael BejaranoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableMar 10, 200741 milesTurfMervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial HandicapG2Fair Grounds Race Course3.401:49.57111 lengthRobby AlbaradoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableMay 5, 200741 milesTurfWoodford Reserve Turf Classic StakesG1Churchill Downs2.40*1:49.01107(4 lengths)Robby AlbaradoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableMay 19, 200741 milesTurfDixie StakesG2Pimlico Race Course2.601:46.3611DNF -Robby AlbaradoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableJan 11, 200851 mileTurfAllowanceAllowance Optional ClaimingGulfstream Park1.70*1:33.26911 lengthEdgar PradoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableFeb 2, 200851 milesDirtDonn HandicapG1Gulfstream Park11.701:48.3586(19 lengths)Edgar PradoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableFeb 23, 200851 milesTurfGulfstream Park Turf StakesG1Gulfstream Park3.002:12.87101NeckJose LezcanoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableApr 11, 200851 mileTurfMaker's Mark Mile StakesG1Keeneland7.701:36.78102(1 length)Robby AlbaradoHelen PittsCunningham, Patricia and Green, Lessee, MelissaMay 3, 200851 milesTurfWoodford Reserve Turf Classic StakesG1Churchill Downs2.20*1:50.50711 lengthRobby AlbaradoHelen PittsCunningham, Patricia and Green, Lessee, MelissaJune 14, 200851 milesDirtStephen Foster HandicapG1Churchill Downs6.001:49.68102(4 lengths)Julien LeparouxHelen PittsCunningham, Patricia and Green, Lessee, MelissaJuly 4, 200851 mileTurfFirecracker HandicapG2Churchill Downs0.50*1:36.6952(1 length)Robby AlbaradoHelen PittsCunningham, Patricia and Green, Lessee, MelissaAug 9, 200861 milesTurfArlington Million StakesG1Arlington Park3.202:02.1775(4 lengths)Robby AlbaradoHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableNov 28, 200861 milesDirtClark HandicapG2Churchill Downs4.901:49.79711 lengthJulien LeparouxHelen PittsMatthew Garretson (Receiver)Jan 31, 200961 milesDirtDonn HandicapG1Gulfstream Park3.301:50.96103(5 lengths)Julien LeparouxHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableMar 7, 200961 milesAll Weather SyntheticSanta Anita HandicapG1Santa Anita Park5.002:01.931311 lengthJulien LeparouxHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableMay 2, 200961 milesTurfWoodford Reserve Turf Classic StakesG1Churchill Downs1.80*1:49.6291HeadJulien LeparouxHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableJune 13, 200961 milesDirtStephen Foster HandicapG1Churchill Downs1.20*1:49.7583(1 length)Julien LeparouxHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableAug 8, 200971 milesTurfArlington Million StakesG1Arlington Park3.002:04.1985(8 lengths)Julien LeparouxHelen PittsMidnight Cry StableSep 6, 200971 milesAll Weather SyntheticPacific Classic StakesG1Del Mar 4.302:02.39122(Neck)Julien LeparouxHelen PittsStronach StablesNov 7, 200971 milesAll Weather SyntheticBreeders' Cup ClassicG1Santa Anita Park10.402:00.621211(28 lengths)Julien LeparouxHelen PittsStronach StablesNov 27, 200971 milesDirtClark HandicapG2Churchill Downs5.801:49.39143( lengths)Rajiv MaraghHelen PittsStronach Stables An asterisk after the odds means Einstein was the post time favorite.
Stud career Einstein was retired to stand stud at Stronach's Adena Springs farm near Paris, Kentucky for a stud fee of $7,500 in 2010. In 2015, he was moved to Adena Springs' Canada location. He stood at Magali Farms in 2016 and Dealing Ranch in 2017 and 2018. His progeny include graded stakes placed horses Rankhasprivileges, Scholar Athlete, Seeking Albert, and Iranistan.
He was pensioned to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky on March 11, 2019. He was euthanized at the age of 18 on October 28, 2020, after suffering complications from cancer.
Pedigree
References