North Slope gets company in Stymie drill

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – North Slope, the winner of the Evening Attire Stakes in his last start, worked four furlongs in 49.63 seconds Friday over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the $100,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct on March 22.

North Slope picked up some unexpected company in the work when Vinny Goodtimes, a horse trained by Pat Quick, joined into the breeze. The company may actually have helped North Slope finish the work, according to Art Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

“It ended up being okay,” Magnuson said. “We were sitting very chilly, it didn’t bother us at all. We were really happy. Great work, in hand, filling up the tank.”

Kid Cruz and Effinex, both nominated to the Stymie, also worked Friday at Belmont, but neither is expected to run next weekend.

Kid Cruz worked a half-mile in 50.78 seconds, his first breeze since finishing sixth in the Evening Attire Stakes on Feb. 22. Trainer Linda Rice said Kid Cruz bled in the race.

Rice said she would look to run Kid Cruz in an allowance race when Aqueduct’s main track opens in early April.

Effinex, the winner of the Empire Classic for New York-breds last fall, worked seven furlongs in a very slow time that didn’t make the work tab, indicating that he’s still not quite ready to run.

“He looks like he needs a couple of more works,” said Steve Moyer, assistant to trainer Jimmy Jerkens. “In fairness, he works better in company and works better in blinkers. I’m pleased with his weight and his condition, but we were looking for something better today and didn’t get it.”