Effinex on schedule for Excelsior

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – New York-bred Effinex, who came off an 86-day layoff to win an open, second-level optional-claiming race March 27 at Aqueduct, worked four furlongs in 50.20 seconds Wednesday at Belmont.

He is being pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Excelsior at 1 1/4 miles on April 25 at Aqueduct.

Effinex won last year’s Empire Classic Handicap in October at Belmont. He finished the year with fourth-place finishes in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup and the Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York-breds on Dec. 31.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens has mentioned the Excelsior as a possible spot for Wicked Strong, last year’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial winner. Jerkens is deciding between the Excelsior and the Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester at one mile May 2.

Wicked Strong finished fourth, beaten one length by Honor Code, in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, his first start since the Jockey Club Gold Cup last September, where he clipped heels with Moreno and unseated jockey Rajiv Maragh.

Wicked Strong is back at Belmont Park after wintering in south Florida.