Effinex drills for Whitney Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Effinex, the winner of the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap in his last start, tuned up for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes by working five furlongs in 1:00.79 on Saturday morning over Saratoga’s main track.
Under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal, Effinex got his final quarter in 23.90 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.84.
Since it will be his only workout between the Suburban and Whitney, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said he wanted “something far enough but didn’t want to go too fast, which he didn’t. Whenever you move to a new place, you want to have a decent work on the track you’re running on.”
In two starts at Saratoga, Effinex finished fourth in last year’s Woodward Stakes and second in the 2014 Albany Stakes, a race for New York-bred 3-year-olds.
Effinex was one of three definite Whitney starters to breeze Saturday. Noble Bird, who finished last in the 2015 Whitney, went a half-mile in 48.27 seconds, galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.22.
“He’s got to step up his game, but I don’t know what else to do with him,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I always thought he liked this track. He didn’t run any good last year when we ran him on it, but he was hurt after that race.”
El Kabeir, who won his maiden by 10 3/4 lengths two summers ago here, worked five furlongs in 59.78 seconds, making up a length on the filly Not Taken. El Kabeir got his last quarter in 23.71 seconds.
“I’m real happy with him; he’s great,” trainer John Terranova said. “He’s worked nonstop since the Stephen Foster. We’re ready. I’m excited.”
Samraat, who is possible for the Whitney, worked five furlongs in 1:01.29 over the main track.
The Whitney field also will include Frosted, the Metropolitan Handicap winner, and Upstart, third in the Metropolitan. The field will be set and post positions drawn Tuesday night at Sperry’s, a restaurant in downtown Saratoga Springs.
