Effinex ready to go for Gold Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. – Effinex has won a pair of graded stakes at 1 1/4 miles already this year, and he is ready for his try at the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, also at 1 1/4 miles, after breezing seven furlongs in 1:28.60 on Sunday over Belmont’s training track.

Effinex won the Grade 3 Excelsior at Aqueduct in April and the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont in June, both at 1 1/4 miles. In between, he was pulled up and eased in the Grade 2 Brooklyn, seemingly bothered by the bit he wore, which prompted him to bear out.

Most recently, Effinex finished fourth to Liam’s Map in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga.

“He came unglued right before the race,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “He was perfect in the post parade, and then he got behind the gate in front of the big crowd and got stupid. Then he broke bad. That wasn’t the time we could afford not to break with the field. It had to cost him something.”

Effinex, a New York-bred son of 2003 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Mineshaft, and his stablemate Wicked Strong are two of six horses expected for the Jockey Club. Tonalist, last year’s Gold Cup winner, Constitution, Coach Inge, and Looks to Spare also are expected to be entered on Wednesday.