Effinex targets Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup

Tri-Bone Stable's multiple graded stakes winner Effinex emerged from his bullet work Saturday morning in good order and will target the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 8 at Belmont Park, confirmed trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

On Saturday, the 5-year-old New York-bred by Mineshaft breezed five furlongs in :59 1/5 seconds on the main track, the fastest of 24 at the distance, for his second official work since his fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Whitney on August 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

Effinex will join stablemate and Grade 1 Woodward victor Shaman Ghost in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. At 1 ¼ miles, the Gold Cup offers an all-fees paid to the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 5 at Santa Anita Park as part of the "Win and You're In" Challenge Series.

"They both like the distance, it's a lot of money and it's right in our backyard," said Jerkens. "There's a lot to like about it. It's the logical place to run before the Breeders' Cup. I don't see anywhere else to run."

Delta Prince, the unraced half-brother to three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta, worked in company with Effinex as he prepares for his unveiling later this month. The 3-year-old Street Cry colt finished about three lengths behind his more accomplished stablemate to earn an official time of :59 4/5 seconds for the five-furlong move.

"He didn't really stay with Effinex the whole way, he did for a good part of the way but he got tired at the very end, which is to be expected," Jerkens said of the breeze. "I like him. He's a beautiful-looking horse, really handsome. I think there's a race on [September] 23rd for maidens, 6 ½ furlongs. We're hoping to get him there."

Source: NYRA Communications