Effinex wins Clark
Effinex, the runner-up to Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh last month in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, won the 141st running of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap by three-quarters of a length Friday at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Mineshaft made a four-wide bid entering the final turn, took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off a late charge from Hoppertunity for his first Grade 1 victory. He ran 11/8 miles in 1:48.92. Ridden by Mike Smith, Effinex paid $7, $3.60 and $3.20 as the 5-2 favorite in the field of eight. Hoppertunity, last year’s Clark winner, returned $3.20 and $2.60. Looks to Spare, an 88-1 long shot, held off Keen Ice for third and paid $10.80. Effinex is owned by Tri-Bone Stables and trained by Jimmy Jerkens. Effinex earned his fourth victory in eight starts this year to cap an impressive 4-year-old campaign that included victories in the Grade 2 Suburban and Grade 3 Excelsior in New York. He now has a 7-2-3 record in 20 lifetime starts. The $300,700 winner’s share of the $500,000 purse boosts his career earnings to $2,112,950. In earlier stakes action, Almasty led from the start to win the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Cup for 3-year-olds by 41/4 lengths.
Midnight Storm won the $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap for older horses by 1 ¾ lengths Friday at Del Mar. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Midnight Storm ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42.70 and paid $9.60, $6 and $5.60. Bal a Bali returned $4.20 and $3.40, while Toowindytohaulrox was another three-quarters of a length and paid $11.80 to show. Seek Again, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth. Midnight Storm tracked pacesetter Macro Access until the head of the stretch, where he surged into the lead and continued strong to the finish line. The victory, worth $150,000, increased Midnight Storm’s career earnings to $562,110, with five victories in 13 starts for trainer Phil D’Amato.
Taris proved added distance was no obstacle, winning the $300,000 Go For Wand Handicap for fillies and mares by 2 ½ lengths Friday at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old was had already demonstrated her talent in shorter races. She was third in her previous start, the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs last month. The Go For Wand was a stretch out to a mile for a runner who was 5-1-2 in eight races at shorter distances. She handled the added furlong in style, sitting second in the early stages before swinging wide in the lane to prevail as the 4-5 favorite. Joel Rosario was the substitute jockey for trainer Simon Callaghan. Gary Stevens had flown in from California but was too ill to ride. The time was 1:36.10 on the fast track. Taris paid $3.80, $2.90 and $2.40. Mei Ling was second, returning $7.40 and $4.50. Spelling Again paid $3.50 to show. It capped a big day for Rosario, who also won the $147,000 King’s Swan Stakes for 2-year-olds aboard 21-1 shot Jan’s Reserve. It was the second consecutive victory for the colt trained by Michael Dilger.