Tri-Bone Stable's Grade I winner Effinex (Mineshaft) emerged from a sharp five-furlong breeze in :59.20 (1/24) Saturday morning at Belmont Park in good order and will be pointed to the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Big Sandy Oct. 8, trainer Jimmy Jerkens confirmed Sunday. The 5-year-old has worked twice since finishing fourth in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga Aug. 6, and will join stablemate and GI Woodward S. hero Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) in the “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 5.
“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.”
Effinex worked in company with the unraced Delta Prince (Street Cry {Ire}), a half-brother to three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta (Empire Maker). The sophomore colt finished roughly three lengths behind his stablemate and was credited with a time of :59 4/5.
“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 [Sept.] 23rd for maidens, 6 1/2 furlongs. We're hoping to get him there.”
Also possible for the Jockey Club Gold Cup is Comfort (Indian Charlie), a hard-fought winner of Saturday's Seattle Slew S. in Elmont. Previously second in the Whitney, the bay emerged from his win in good order, according to Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher.
“He seems to have come out of the race well,” said Hughes. “He ate up all his feed and is in good order.”
Hughes confirmed that GI Spinaway S. winner Sweet Loretta (Tapit) is under consideration for the GI Frizette S. Oct. 8, while 'TDN Rising Star' Theory (Gemologist) could go in the GI Champagne S. that same day.
Some high profile workers were out on the track Sunday morning as well, including Jump Sucker Stable and Oak Bluff Stables' Governor Malibu (Malibu Moon), who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.55 (6/19) under regular rider Joel Rosario. It was the chestnut's first work since finishing fifth behind 'TDN Rising Star' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in the GI Travers S. Aug. 27.
“He had a nice, steady work. He started easy and finished well,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “He was willing. For now, we're keeping all our options open. It would be great to find an easier race coming back from the [GII] Jim Dandy and the Travers, and then be ambitious again.”
Clement said that the GII Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 24 and the GIII Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park Sept. 25 are both options for Governor Malibu's next start.
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