Einstein, 'Macho' Work Toward Clark Rematch

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Photo: Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography

Einstein won the Clark in 2008.

Edited Churchill Downs release

The Dallas Stewart-trained Macho Again   and the Helen Pitts-Blasi-trained Einstein   will have rematch Nov. 27 when the two horses are expected to be the starting high weights in the 135th running of the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Stronach Stables, Einstein finished third, beaten a length by Macho Again, in June’s Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I). The Brazilian-bred son of Spend a Buck worked a half-mile in :48.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 early the morning of Nov. 22 under Kelly Likes.

It was Einstein’s first work since finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 7, the worst showing of his 29-race career.

“I have no answer,” Pitts-Blasi said of the Breeders’ Cup. “We couldn’t find anything. He went very well this morning and I was pleased."

Pitts-Blasi has worked Einstein in the past, but opted for Likes on Sunday for the work over a fast track.

“I wanted to take some weight off him and Kelly is lighter than I am and I could watch him,” Pitts-Blasi said.

Regular rider Julien Leparoux will miss the final two days of the meet to ride in the Japan Cup  (Jpn-I) and Pitts-Blasi has enlisted New York-based Rajiv Maragh to ride Einstein in the Clark.

Macho Again, runner-up in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) and Woodward Stakes (gr. I),  has not started since finishing fourth behind Summer Bird in the Oct. 3 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

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