Effinex ‘holding his form' for Breeders' Cup Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – Effinex, the runner-up to American Pharoah in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, worked five furlongs in 1:00.46 over the Belmont Park training track Monday in preparation for this year’s $6 million BC Classic on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.

Under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal, Efffinex went his first three furlongs in 36.29 seconds, which prompted trainer Jimmy Jerkens, watching from the eighth pole, to raise his hand to have Pahal slow the horse down. He got his final quarter in 24.17 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.91.

“He was rolling along,” Jerkens said. “He’s definitely fit. He’s holding his form.”

Effinex and Jerkens’s other Classic contender, Shaman Ghost, are scheduled to ship to Santa Anita on Wednesday. Jerkens said both horses will have one work at Santa Anita, though he isn’t looking to do much with Effinex, who just finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 8.

In other BC works Monday at Belmont: Ironicus, preparing for the Mile, went a half-mile on the dirt in 48.83 seconds; Oscar Performance (Juvenile Turf) went five furlongs over the turf in 1:02.98, according to DRF clocker Mike Vesce; and Rumble Doll went three furlongs in 35.60 seconds over the turf for a possible start in the Turf Sprint.