October, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Old Friends: ‘Farm Favorite’ Einstein Euthanized Due To Cancer Complications

Five-time Grade 1 winner Einstein has died.

The 18-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck had been pensioned at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, since 2019. He was euthanized this morning at Park Equine Hospital due to complications of cancer.

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, made the announcement this morning.

Trained by Helen Pitts, Einstein (Spend a Buck–Gay Charm, by Ghadeer) captured the 2009 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and four Grade 1 stakes on turf, including back-to-back triumphs in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Other wins included the 2008 Clark Handicap (G2), also at Churchill, and the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (G2T) at Fair Grounds. Einstein was among the first to have victories on all three track surfaces: dirt, turf, and synthetic.

In all Einstein made 27 starts, winning 11 races. He won or placed in 13 stakes, all of which were graded, and his career earnings totaled $2,703,324.

Einstein retired from racing in 2010 to stand at The Stronach Group's Adena Springs near Paris, Ky. He later stood at Adena Springs North in Ontario, Canada, and at Magali Farms near Santa Ynez, Calif.

His top runners include G3 winner Rankhasprivileges and multiple-stakes-placed E Equalsmcsquared. In 2019 Einstein was retired by Adena Springs to the non-profit organization.

“When we first retired Einstein, he was diagnosed with a tumor,” noted Old Friends's Blowen. “Dr. Rhodes Bell of Park Equine performed a delicate operation and removed the tumor. The procedure allowed Einstein to enjoy more than a year of happy life with Old Friends before the fast-growing tumors re-occurred over the weekend.

“Einstein was as classy and smart as he was handsome,” Blowen added. “He was a farm favorite, and he was especially fond of John Bradley. I wished we could have taken care of him for another decade.”

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Michelle Lovell ‘Just Might’ Take A Shot In Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Locally based trainer Michelle Lovell and her longtime owner Dr. Robert Griffon will attempt Breeders' Cup glory for the first time when 4-year-old gelding Just Might tests the waters of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

“We thought about this choice for a long time whether to pre-enter or not,” Lovell said. “He ran two solid third-place finishes in his last two starts and I think deserves a chance at a race of this caliber.”

Just Might, who was bred by Lovell and Griffon, had a breakthrough 20-1 victory in the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes at Fair Grounds. After the win, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and racing halted until the spring. Like many trainers, Lovell and her small string of horses were affected by the temporary racing shutdown. She moved her horses in early March to Ashwood Farm outside of Lexington and made the daily 70-mile drive from her house in Louisville.

When racing resumed, the speedy Just Might returned to stakes company in the $150,000 Shakertown (GII) but experienced trouble throughout his journey and finished ninth. Two months later, Just Might nearly pulled another shocking upset in the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GII) after he took the lead at the top of the stretch. He finished third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths to Diamond Oops and Extravagant Kid.

“Colby (Hernandez) rode him great in his last two starts,” Lovell said. “He is such a good rider and deserves this opportunity in the Breeders' Cup.”

Lovell has trained for Griffon's Griffon Farms since the 1990s in Texas. The duo raced Just Might's dam, Dynamite Babe, to nine victories through 21 starts. Just Might's 3-year-old full sister Dynamite Gift recently returned from the sidelines and is preparing for her fifth-career start.

“Dr. Griffon is such a lovely human,” Lovell said. “He's like family to me and I've been training for him for most of my career. The dam of this horse was his horse and we ended up breaking her and racing her. When it time to make her a broodmare he let me become a partner. It's super special to have a horse like this – and such a great storyline being a homebred.”

The pre entry announcement for all 14 Breeders' Cup races took place Wednesday from Keeneland.

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Public Voting Now Open for Cartier Racing Awards

The public is now able to vote on the 2020 Cartier Racing Awards at www.cartierracingawards.co.uk. Forms for those wishing to vote by post will be available in the coming days in the Daily Telegraph and Racing Post. All current standings across all Cartier Award divisions are available at the Cartier Racing Awards website above.

“It has been an incredible sporting season, albeit an unusual one in light of the new regulation the racing world has adapted to,” said Cartier UK Managing Director Laurent Feniou. “I am truly inspired by these displays of resilience, capturing the true essence and spirit of the sport.”

The post Public Voting Now Open for Cartier Racing Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Baffert-Trained Trio Top 11 Pre-Entries For 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic

This Wednesday the Breeders' Cup released pre-entries for the 14 World Championship races scheduled for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky. Those pre-entries were headlined by 11 contenders for the 2020 edition of the $6 million G1 Breeders' Cup Classic, including five winners of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races.

Trainer Bob Baffert pre-entered his dominant trio of G1 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, G1 Awesome Again winner Improbable, and G1 Pacific Classic winner Maximum Security. Other Challenge winners pre-entered in the Classic include Tom's d'Etat (G1 Stephen Foster) and the 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver (G1 Preakness), though her first preference is listed as the Distaff against her own gender.

Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law, second in the Kentucky Derby last out, was also pre-entered in the Classic, and figures to draw a lot of support at the wagering windows.

The other five pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic include: By My Standards, Global Campaign, Higher Power, Tacitus, and Title Ready.

Other pre-entries for the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships are available here: Breeders_Cup_Pre_Entries

G1 Breeders' Cup Turf – $4 million

Arklow (Brad Cox)
Channel Maker (Bill Mott)
Donjah (Henk Grewe)
Lord North (John Gosden)
Magical (Aidan O'Brien)
Mean Mary (Graham Motion)**
Mehdaayih (John Gosden)**
Mogul (Aidan O'Brien)
Red King (Phil D'Amato)
Tarnawa (Dermot Weld)**
United (Richard Mandella)

** first preference in Filly & Mare Turf

G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff – $2 million

Ce Ce (Michael McCarthy)
Dunbar Road (Chad Brown)
Harvest Moon (Simon Callaghan)
Harvey's Lil Goil (Bill Mott)*
Horologist (Bill Mott)
Lady Kate (Eddie Kenneally)
Monomoy Girl (Brad Cox)
Ollie's Candy (John Sadler)
Point of Honor (George Weaver)
Swiss Skydiver (Ken McPeek)**
Valiance (Todd Pletcher)

*first preference in Filly & Mare Turf
**second preference in Classic

G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile – $2 million

Calibrate (Steve Asmussen)
Camp Hope (Ken McPeek)
Classier (Bob Baffert)
Dreamer's Disease (Robertino Diodoro)
Essential Quality (Brad Cox)
Jackie's Warrior (Steve Asmussen)
Keepmeinmind (Robertino Diodoro)
King Fury (Ken McPeek)
Likeable (Todd Pletcher)
Next (Wesley Ward)
Reinvestment Risk (Chad Brown)
Rombauer (Michael McCarthy)
Sittin On Go (Dale Romans)
Smiley Sobotka (Dale Romans)
(AE – Hot Rod Charlie – Doug O'Neill)

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