Einstein, who is scheduled to run in the Sept. 6 Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar, has been bought by Frank Stronach’s Stronach Stables for an undisclosed sum from Bill Gallion and Shirley Cunningham’s Midnight Cry Stable. The deal was completed Aug. 31.

Einstein, who was purchased for his ability as a runner and his potential as a stallion, is a grade I winner this year on the main track and the turf. He captured the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) (10F, AW) on a synthetic surface and then took the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. IT) (9F, Turf) on grass at Churchill Downs for the second consecutive year.

Bred in 2002 and foaled in Brazil, Einstein has made all 27 starts in North America, winning 11 of 27 races. He has won or placed in 13 stakes, all of which are graded, and has earned $2,703,324.

“Mr. Stronach’s breeding program focuses on soundness and on powerful outcrosses,” said Eric J. Hamelback, general manager of Stronach’s Adena Springs farm near Paris, Ky. “Einstein has won seven stakes, five of which are grade I. He’s a strong, solid individual and is still racing.”

Einstein is by 1986 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Spend a Buck, who achieved plenty of success as a stallion in Brazil. Einstein’s pedigree is free of the pervasive blood of Mr. Prospector and Seattle Slew. Another popular stallion, Northern Dancer, appears once in the fourth generation of Einstein’s pedigree. Einstein was produced from Brazilian group I winner Gay Charm (by Ghadeer).

Einstein also captured the 2006 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. IT) (11F, Turf); the 2007 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) (9F, Turf) at Fair Grounds; and the 2008 Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes (gr. IT) (11F, Turf) and the Clark Handicap (gr. II) (9F, Dirt) at Churchill Downs. Five of his six stakes-placings came in grade I events.

-from bloodhorse.com

History repeated itself in a big way for Frank Stronach. For the second time in his career, the Austrian native earned an Eclipse Award as both outstanding breeder and top owner in the same year. In 2008, his Adena Springs was named best breeder, and his Stronach Stables was chosen top owner.

Stronach, who won both titles in 2000, had some big numbers working in his favor in 2008. There were 573 starters representing Adena Springs as breeder alone or in partnership. Those runners, of which 25 were stakes winners, made 3,679 starts, won 604 races, placed in 1,032 others, and earned $19,247,705. Not bad, considering only one of those starters was bred in partnership.

Finishing second by breeders’ earnings was Robert and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable, with $8,521,912, followed by Central Kentucky owner/breeder William S. Farish, with $6,950,184. Stonerside was an Eclipse Award finalist as leading breeder, as was Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm.?In Eclipse Award balloting for leading owner, Stronach Stables outpointed IEAH Stables (Michael Iavarone, co-president).

Frank Stronach, either in his name or in the Adena Springs name, has won a record six Eclipse Awards as outstanding breeder. The next closest is the four won by Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms. Stronach has earned four Eclipse Awards as top owner, either in his name or in the name of Stronach Stables, which ties him with John Franks.
Adena Springs was represented by nine homebred stakes winners, including graded winners Ginger Punch, Giant Gizmo, Harlem Rocker, Spring Waltz, and Sugar Swirl.
Ginger Punch, the 2007 Eclipse Award-winning older female and a 2008 finalist in that division, won five stakes in 2008, including the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) and the Go for Wand (gr. I) and Ogden Phipps (gr. I) Handicaps. Her other stakes wins came in the Louisville Stakes (gr. II) and the restricted Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes.

In a way, Ginger Punch is more than just a homebred. She is by Awesome Again, who stands at Adena Springs near Paris, Ky.

Stronach also stands stallions at his Adena Springs South near Williston, Fla. In Canada, where Stronach resides, he owns Adena Springs near Aurora, Ontario.

Harlem Rocker was not only a graded stakes winner in New York, but also a classic winner in Canada. He won the Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct, plus the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie as a Stronach Stables lessee. His sire, Macho Uno, stands at Adena Springs near Paris.

The year 2008 also was good for Frank Stronach in Canada. Adena Springs was voted a Sovereign Award as outstanding breeder.

Stronach Stables picked up three Sovereigns. Fatal Bullet was chosen Horse of the Year and top sprinter, and homebred Ginger Brew was voted best 3-year-old filly. The latter, by Adena Springs stallion Milwaukee Brew, scored her biggest win in the classic Woodbine Oaks.

Fatal Bullet, by Adena Springs South stallion Red Bullet, won three stakes in 2008. He ended the year with a runner-up effort in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I).

-from bloodhorse.com