Effinex (Mineshaft) headlines a field of seven set to line up beneath the lights at Churchill Downs in Saturday night's GI Stephen Foster H., a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
Last term's Classic runner-up behind the mighty American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) turned the tables on Melatonin (Kodiak Kowboy) in the GII Oaklawn H. most recently Apr. 16 after finishing a disappointing third to that one in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 12. The even-money morning-line favorite will attempt to join fellow GI Clark H. winners No Marker (1989-90), Saint Liam (2004-05) and Blame (2009-10) to return to Louisville the following spring to annex the Stephen Foster.
“He's coming in real good,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “Usually when he comes out of a big race like the one at Oaklawn he loses a few pounds, but it looks like he came out of that race better than he usually does. He can be a weird horse to gauge. He's an old-time horse who just does his thing. There were times that I didn't think he was at his best and he ran really well. I never take anything lightly, especially these days when horses can be so in and out. I always go at it like it's the Breeders' Cup. I don't take his training lightly because of that. To go at it like that, you would just be kidding yourself with a horse of this quality.”
Hall of Famer Gary Stevens will 'borrow' the reins from regular pilot Mike Smith, who was already booked to ride champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in Saturday's GII Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita.
“It was Mike's idea so I figured that you can't argue with that,” Jerkens said. “I'm sure he'll tell Gary about his quirks. They've been riding against each other for years and they kind of cover each other that way.”
The 8-year-old Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor), a four-time winner at Churchill, enters off a 13-1 upset over Eagle (Candy Ride {Arg}) in this track's GII Alysheba S. May 6. The latter, winner of Keeneland's GIII Ben Ali S. Apr. 16, also completed the exacta behind Majestic Harbor in the GIII Mineshaft H. at Fair Grounds Feb. 20.
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