Effinex changes plans, eyes Dubai World Cup
There is a change of plans in the works for Effinex – and a drastic change at that.
David GreningJan 01, 2016
There is a change of plans in the works for Effinex – and a drastic change at that.
Itsaknockout, idle since finishing ninth in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, made a triumphant return when drawing off to an easy 4 3/4-length victory over trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's Grade 1-placed Einaawi under high-priced optional-claiming conditions going 1 1/16 miles here Thursday.
Songbird, the undefeated winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31, worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday and is on schedule to make her 2016 debut in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes.
California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, galloped about 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita on Friday, preparing for a start in the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 9.
Iron Rob beat maidens at Los Alamitos in December and will race against winners for the first time in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Sunday. The optional claimer could lead to a start in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes.
Path of David, who won Thursday's $79,250 Eddie Logan Stakes on turf at Santa Anita, is being pointed for the $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes on the main track here Feb. 6.
Mohaymen, generally considered the top 3-year-old prospect currently stabled on the East Coast this winter, took his first step on the road to the Kentucky Derby since arriving in south Florida by working four furlongs in 49.60 seconds Thursday at Palm Meadows.
Under normal circumstances, a $100,000 stakes restricted to fillies and mares is considered an easier spot than a $1 million Breeders' Cup race open to either gender. But the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita drew an outstanding field of female turf sprinters in a downhill sprint that comes close to matching the quality of the 2015 BC Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah set a single-season record for North American earnings in 2015, breaking the 2004 mark held by Smarty Jones, according to a release issued Friday by Equibase.
The 15-day holiday meet at Turfway ended Thursday with Albin Jimenez atop the rider standings with 23 winners, nine more than Rodney Prescott. It's the fourth time from the last five Turfway meets Jimenez, a 24-year-old native of Panama, has been the top jockey.