Next start for Effinex to be determined

Tri-Bone Stables' Effinex came out of his fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes in good order, and trainer Jimmy Jerkens reports the 5-year-old's next start has yet to be determined.

"We haven't really decided what we're going to do next," said Jerkens. "It's tempting to run in the Woodward [September 3], but I don't know. We'll have to see what Russell [racing manager Russell Cohen] wants, but if it was up to me I'd like to wait for the [Jockey Club] Gold Cup, I really would. You can't ever write anything off these days, though. If your horse is doing super good you take a shot. It's certainly on the table, but we're leaning towards not [running]."

Jerkens was pleased with the effort Effinex put forth. He earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure despite racing wide with Mike Smith, who felt the son of Mineshaft wasn't entirely comfortable with the footing.

"He says that a lot about him, it may just be the way he's put together, his mechanics, you know, the back doesn't follow the front," noted Jerkens. "Listen, coming off a mile and a quarter race [his second straight win in the Suburban] where the race is so deliberate, to be chasing a fast pace like that where you're losing ground it's hard. I loved how he made a second effort right at the very end. It even surprised Mike, I think. He got beat an inch for third, but it just shows how classy he is. He's never done."

Unified, who won the Grade 3 Bay Shore and Grade 2 Peter Pan in the spring, has been taken out of training, but Centennial Farms and Jerkens have another promising 3-year-old in Adulator, who stretched out successfully to 1 1/8 miles in a first-level allowance Friday for a one-length victory.

Adulator, purchased as a 2-year-old for $400,000, benefited from a rail-skimming ride by John Velazquez, who was aboard the Flatter colt for the first time.

"You could tell by his other races he didn't really want to be rushed off his feet - he acted like he resented it a little bit," said Jerkens. "He worked a gorgeous mile here a week ago. It worked out just like Johnny said - he's 'going to come running out of there and make the speed horses outside run if they want to get the lead and cross over, and then I can take it easy,' and that's exactly what happened."

Adulator a maiden winner at Aqueduct's spring meet in his second start, is now 2-1-0 from five outings. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

"We'll see how he handles this race first, see how he comes out of it, and look ahead a little bit from there," said Jerkens.

Source: NYRA Communications