Effinex arrives for Oaklawn Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Effinex, the 121-pound highweight for the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday, touched down in Little Rock, Ark., on Monday morning, according to a track official. The airport is about an hour’s van ride from Oaklawn.

The field for the Oaklawn Handicap will be drawn Wednesday, and the race is scheduled as the ninth race Saturday.

The champion Untapable on Sunday put in her final breeze for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap, to be run on Friday. Trainer Steve Asmussen said she is to be ridden by Florent Geroux.

◗ Jockey Corey Nakatani, who has wintered at Oaklawn, is returning to Southern California, said agent Gene Short, who represented the rider in Arkansas. Nakatani was off his mounts Saturday and Sunday. He had talked about riding at Keeneland but decided to get back home to his family in California, said Short.

Nakatani ranked fifth in the Oaklawn standings through Sunday. He won 28 races from 149 starts at the meet and had mount earnings of $1.3 million.