Effinex gets heavy lifting out of the way

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Stephen Foster Handicap is still more than three weeks away, but probable race favorite Effinex had his most serious workout for the race on Wednesday, drilling seven furlongs in 1:27.40 over the Belmont Park training track.

Under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal, Effinex broke off at the half-mile pole and went his opening eighth in 12.76 seconds and the quarter in 24.69. Effinex, working by himself, went from the quarter pole to the wire in 24.20 seconds. He continued on through five furlongs in 1:01.82 and six furlongs in 1:14.26 while seemingly just galloping. He pulled up a mile in 1:41.86.

This was Effinex’s third work since he won the Oaklawn Handicap on April 16.

“I like to get a lot of his work done early and keep him fresh for the race,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “If I do something too fast too close to the race, he doesn’t run as good.”

In his last four starts, Effinex finished second to American Pharoah in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, won the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill, finished third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, and won the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.