Einstein out to make amends in Dixie

BALTIMORE - Einstein will try to bounce back from a disappointing finish in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic two weeks ago when he heads a competitive field of 12 entered in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Dixie Handicap at Pimlico.

Trainer Helen Pitts said there were a couple of reasons she believes Einstein didn't run his best in the Woodford Reserve, a race in which he was seventh, though beaten only three lengths by winner Sky Conqueror.

"It was pretty soft turf, that was a big factor,'' Pitts said. "He had some pharyngitis, had some throat problems. Everything's cleared up and he's the kind of horse that likes to run frequently. He enjoys the game.''

Einstein, who won the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap last year and the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in March, will break from post 9 under Robby Albarado.

Einstein, who should benefit from an expected contested pace, will need to rebound to beat a deep field in the 1 1/8-mile Dixie.

Remarkable News has been racing competitively in graded stakes company for the last year. He won the Connaught Cup at Woodbine and the Fourstardave at Saratoga last summer, and finished second in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile in the fall. He stumbled coming out of the gate in the Maker's Mark Mile on April 13 and was farther back than he prefers to be, but still was beaten only 2 1/4 lengths.

"For some reason the horse was in the gate for four minutes before everybody else,'' trainer Angel Penna Jr. said. "He got a little antsy, he jumped up in the air, and when he landed he kind of stumbled and lost the race right then.''

Remarkable News is saddled with post 12 and has never won at 1 1/8 miles. That is why Penna is not 100 percent sure he will run Saturday. Penna said he may consider running back in the Connaught Cup next weekend.

"He's doing good, he's a more settled horse than last year,'' Penna said. "He's not that fired up to be running off with the lead. He's never won at a mile and an eighth, and with the 12 post that complicates things again.''

A horse that could offer value is Outperformance, shipping in from New York for trainer Rick Violette. Outperformance finished second behind Showing Up in the Jamaica last year in his only try at 1 1/8 miles. Outperformance finished fourth in his seasonal debut, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Defer in a Keeneland allowance race.

"It was quite a good comeback race against an awfully tough field, and he needed the race fitness-wise,'' Violette said. "The question is the distance. He needs to show he can be effective against top company at a mile and an eighth.''

Dreadnaught is 1 for his last 18 over the last 2 1/2 years, but he did run well enough to finish second, beaten a head by Better Talk Now, in this race last year.

Cosmonaut, winner of a classified allowance at Keeneland last month, could be sitting in a perfect spot from post 3 under Edgar Prado.

Trainer Marty Wolfson is always dangerous when shipping out of south Florida, and he sends up Can't Beat It and Mending Fences for this. Graded winners Silver Tree and Woodlander and the local hopeful Stay Close add depth to the field.