Einstein headed to Big Cap

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Einstein, a three-time Grade 1 winner on turf, will seek his first Grade 1 victory on a main track when he ships to the West Coast for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7.

Einstein, who finished third behind Albertus Maximus in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in his 2009 debut, will fly to Santa Anita on Wednesday accompanied by trainer Helen Pitts and will likely work over the Pro-Ride surface on Sunday.

"It's a million dollars so why not give it a whirl?" said Pitts. "Obviously the surface is an unknown, but he liked the artificial surface when galloping at Arlington last summer before the Million, so I believe he'll like the one out there as well. With the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita again this year, this is a good time to find out. "

Einstein's regular rider Julien Leperoux will have the mount once again in the Big Cap.