DEL MAR ---- The field for the $1 million Pacific Classic got a little smarter Sunday.
Einstein, an 11-time winner in 27 career starts, including five Grade I victories, will be coming to Del Mar to compete in the Pacific Classic Sept. 6, trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi told Del Mar officials.
The richest North American horse currently in training, Einstein has collected more than $2.7 million in purse money for the Midnight Cry Stable. A 7-year-old bred in Brazil, Einstein was sired by 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend A Buck, and his dam, Gay Charm, was the 1988 Brazilian champion 3-year-old filly.
Einstein will be making his second trip west from his base in Kentucky.
In March he won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap under jockey Julien Leparoux, who is scheduled to be aboard for the Pacific Classic. Einstein has won races on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces, including the Pro-Ride synthetic dirt at Santa Anita.
After winning the Big 'Cap, Einstein successfully defended his title in the Grade I Turf Classic Stakes on May 2 at Churchill Downs, becoming to first repeat winner in the 23-year history of the race that directly precedes the Kentucky Derby.
Einstein is scheduled to ship to Del Mar on Aug. 31. Nominations for the Pacific Classic close on Wednesday, and other prospects expected to work out this week on the track are Mast Track, Global Hunter, Colonel John and Misremembered.
Baze out at least a week
Jockey Tyler Baze will miss riding in at least the next three stakes races after being sidelined by a broken finger, his agent Ronnie Ebanks told track officials.
Baze, currently second in the jockey standings at Del Mar behind Joel Rosario, suffered a fractured pinky finger on his left hand when he was dismounted by R. Bee Ess prior to Saturday's final race. R. Bee Ess ran off and was scratched from the race.
Baze was scheduled to ride eight horses on Sunday, including Win Allison Win in the Solana Beach Handicap, but he is expected to miss at least a week of action. Baze was also named on eight horses for Wednesday's program, including Men's Magazine in the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes.
Ebanks said the jockey would have to give up mounts on Monterey Jazz in next Saturday's Grade II, $300,000 Del Mar Mile, and Obrigado in next Sunday's Grade II, $250,000 Del Mar Handicap.
Ebanks said he hopes Baze can return in time to ride Virginia Derby winner Battle of Hastings on Labor Day weekend in the Grade II, $350,000 Del Mar Derby.
You Lift Me Up rises
After going winless in seven starts this year, You Lift Me up came through in Sunday's 16th running of the $100,000 Solana Beach Handicap.
"She earned her forgiveness today," trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. "She's been training real well and she's been running real well all year. She picked a good time to win here."
Joel Rosario, Del Mar's leading jockey for 2009, guided the 4-year-old You Lift Me Up outside co-favorite Hot n' Dusty down the stretch for the win, his 36th of the meet.
"It came up just about the way Jerry said it would," Rosario said. "He said to stay up close behind the speed horses and look to run at the end."
The win, which came before an on-track crowd of 14,904, was the sixth in 25 career starts for You Lift Me Up, which paid $9.60.
Hot n' Dusty finished a head behind with Alex Solis aboard, and Bootleg Annie was third under Garrett Gomez, who rode four winners in Sunday's other races.
Little Leaguers create buzz
Baseball scores are rarely announced at Del Mar, but track announcer Trevor Denman made an exception just before the Solana Beach Handicap.
Denman received one of the day's loudest cheers when he announced that the Chula Vista Park View Little League All-Stars defeated Peabody, Mass., 14-0, at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.
Foreign flags will fly
Wednesday's Harry F. Brubaker Stakes will have an international flavor with five of the 10 prospective starters being foreign-breds. Argentina will be represented by a two-horse entry from trainer Darrell Vienna, and two horses from Italy and one from England will also be a part of the field of 3-year-olds-and-up that will cover 1 1/16 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
One of the Italian horses, 7-year-old Becrux, is very familiar with the Durante course with three wins and two seconds in seven trips. Another favorite to watch is Tiago, a multiple stakes winner with career earnings of $2.3 million who will be making his first career grass start.
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