Einstein shipping to California for Classic

Einstein, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in March over the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, completed his local preparations with a sharp workout Sunday at Churchill Downs and was to be flown Tuesday to California.

Julien Leparoux, who has the mount on Einstein for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic, was aboard for the work for trainer Helen Pitts, who said Einstein could fit as well as any in the $5 million race.

"He likes that track out there, and who knows?" said Pitts. "I think he's tough right now. He's matured a lot, and I think he's doing great now."

In the company of two 2-year-old Pitts stablemates, Einstein breezed five furlongs in a bullet 59.80 seconds. Pitts said the 7-year-old Brazilian-bred would work once over the Pro-Ride leading up to the Classic.