Foster comes at perfect time for Effinex

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A whole bunch of New York’s finest Thoroughbreds were in action last weekend at Belmont Park on a huge Belmont Stakes weekend, with Effinex being among the notable exceptions.

Instead, the New York-bred 5-year-old was flown out Sunday morning on an equine charter that transported a planeload of horses back to Kentucky, where on Saturday night Effinex will take center stage as a solid favorite in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said one reason Effinex is running in the Foster is because it’s a Win and You’re In race for the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

“Obviously, we’ve been looking at this race for a while,” Jerkens said this week from New York. “He likes the track at Churchill, the timing between races is just right, and the 1 1/8-mile distance is perfect.

“After this, we’ll be racing in New York to get ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Over the last half-year or so, Effinex has become one of the top handicap horses on the continent. He was second to American Pharoah in the BC Classic last fall at Keeneland, then won the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill in late November. In his two starts this year, he was third in the Santa Anita Handicap and won the Oaklawn Handicap on April 16, both times as the favorite.

Jerkens, who was scheduled to arrive here Thursday, said the nine weeks since the Oaklawn Handicap is ideal because of how “everything we’re doing is with the Breeders’ Cup in mind.”

“He has actually thrived on running pretty often, but we don’t want to peak before the fall,” Jerkens said.

Effinex, bred and owned by the Tri-Bone Stable of the Cohen family, will run next at Saratoga in either the Whitney or Woodward, but not in both, Jerkens said.

Gary Stevens will replace fellow Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith for a one-time-only arrangement aboard Effinex on Saturday, said Jerkens. Smith is otherwise occupied with Songbird, who returns to action Saturday in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.

“We’re very happy to have Gary,” said Jerkens.

Assistant trainer Kent Sweezey, who accompanied Effinex to Churchill, said Jerkens has tentatively planned a short blowout for Friday. The horse went to the paddock and had a routine gallop Wednesday and was scheduled to be schooled in the starting gate Thursday.

Sweezey, 30, grew up in Louisville and Lexington and has worked for Jerkens for about a year and a half after a three-year stint under Eoin Harty in California.