Effinex sharp in work for Jockey Club Gold Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. – One week after his stablemate Shaman Ghost won the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga, Effinex gave a not-so-subtle reminder that trainer Jimmy Jerkens has two top-caliber horses in the older male division in his barn.

Effinex, a Grade 1 winner and two-time winner of the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap, blazed five furlongs in 59.32 seconds over the Belmont Park main track Saturday in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup here on Oct. 8. That race is also the intended target for Shaman Ghost.

Saturday’s move was just the second for Effinex since he finished fourth to Frosted in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 6.

Effinex, working shortly after the 8:45 a.m. renovation break, worked in company with the unraced 3-year-old colt Delta Prince, a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Royal Delta.

Effinex, under exercise rider Kelvin Pahal, began the move just off the flank of Delta Prince and went his first quarter in 23.98 seconds, three-eighths in 35.25, and came home his last quarter in 24.07 while finishing about two lengths in front of Delta Prince. Effinex galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.47 and seven-eighths in 1:27.09.

"It was a little quicker than I was looking for," Jerkens said. "The track is so fast, especially after a harrow, he just bounced right along and went fast. He hadn't done anything substantial in a while, I thought it was something he could have used anyway."

Effinex won the Suburban here on July 9 and then ran a decent race when fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Whitney by a razor-sharp Frosted. Jerkens took Saturday’s quick move as a positive sign.

“He was good and fresh and feeling his oats,” Jerkens said. “He’s a picture of health and sound right now, and he did work on the main track in company; if a horse doesn’t work good under those circumstances, they never will. Time-wise, it was probably a second and a half more than I would have liked at this stage of the game, but I’m not going to squawk about it.”

Jerkens said he's not sure who will ride Effinex in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Mike Smith has ridden him in all but one start beginning with last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, where he finished second to American Pharoah. But Smith also rode Arrogate to a record-setting victory in the Travers, and that horse is being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Classic, as is Effinex.

Jerkens and stable manager Russell Cohan said they will talk with Smith before deciding who will ride Effinex in the Jockey Gold Cup and/or Breeders' Cup.

Jerkens confirmed Saturday that Shaman Ghost also will be pointed to the Gold Cup.

"It's a big purse, and it's right here at Belmont, and a mile and a quarter doesn't seem to be anything he has a problem with; it's a logical place to run," Jerkens said.

At this stage, others pointing to the Jockey Club Gold Cup are Mubtaahij, the runner-up in the Woodward, and Hoppertunity, most recently fourth in the Pacific Classic.