Effinex inherited a supporting role in the coronation of American Pharoah at the Breeders' Cup, but his connections are hoping the colt will move to center stage Friday in the 141st running of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Eight horses were entered in Friday’s $120,000 Courageous Lady sophomore filly stakes at Northfield Park. Only a few weeks ago trainer Ron Burke conditioned half of the field. The sport’s leading trainer will only have two going postward on Friday but the good news is that Sassa Hanover and Southwind Roulette start close to the inside in one of the last significant stakes of the year.
A sharp Hot Kiss will try to overcome a wide draw while aiming for her third straight win on Friday at Woodbine in a first-level allowance for fillies and mares.
Chief of State (#3, ML 6-1) returns in Wednesday's first race at Aqueduct, a six-furlong maiden special weight race. It will be his first start since finishing third by four lengths in a maiden special weight race July 12 at Belmont Park. The first- and second-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts. Get the Key Race report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Garnet Barnsdale's analysis of the Thursday 11/26 card at Woodbine Harness.
Illman: How I'd play Churchill Downs for Thursday, Nov. 26
Commissioner, a Grade 3 winner and narrow runner-up in the 2014 Belmont Stakes, will make his debut at stud in 2016 at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., following a planned final start in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup.
Rousing Sermon, a Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner, has been retired from racing and will debut at stud in 2016 at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif., for an advertised fee of $2,000.
Litfin: Aqueduct Horses to Watch for week of Nov. 23
Yes It’s True, a Grade 1 winner and member of the Three Chimneys Farm stallion roster, was euthanized Monday at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., due to a perforated intestine.
