Tri-Bone Stables' Effinex, the probable favorite for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 12, arrived at Santa Anita Park safely from Florida early the evening of March 3 and was bedded down in trainer Eoin Harty's barn to prepare for the 1 1/4-mile dirt test.
"We left Palm Meadows at 6:30 a.m. (EST) and got in the barn about 6:30 (p.m., PST)," said Kent Sweezey, assistant to Jimmy Jerkens, who trains the 5-year-old Mineshaft horse. "It made for a long day for him, but he ate up everything last night and looks good. I had him walking this morning and bouncing around, so he shipped good."
Sweezey, who recently turned 30, is a native of Lexington. He worked with Harty until parting company two years ago at Del Mar and has been with Jerkens for 18 months. Prior to that, he was with Christophe Clement, then came to Southern California, where he was with Harty for three years.
"The horse hasn't run since Nov. 27 (when he won the grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs)," Sweezey said. "Initially, we were going to give him a break after that. Then the (Dubai) World Cup (UAE-I) was considered, but we felt he wouldn't be ready to go all the way to Dubai, so we decided the Santa Anita Handicap was the next-best option."
After running second to American Pharoah at odds of 33-1 in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 31, Effinex validated that effort with his first grade I score in the Clark.
NOVAK: Effinex Lands Grade I in Clark Handicap
"Effinex will breeze here for sure, but rain is supposed to come the next couple days, so it puts us in a predicament," Sweezey said. "We gave him a little breeze Wednesday before we left Palm Meadows—I'm not sure it even went down as a breeze—but he blew out a little bit.
"He jogged today, will gallop tomorrow, breeze in the next couple of days, and then go straight into the race. Maybe Jimmy will be here for the race. I'm not sure. We've got a bunch of good young horses in Florida, one of which might run there the same day Effinex runs here, so Jimmy will have to make a decision if he's going to come out or not."
Reddam Racing's Donworth, another Big 'Cap probable, worked four furlongs March 4 on Santa Anita's fast main track in :48 flat under exercise rider Jonny Garcia. Trainer Doug O'Neill, however, had the son of Tiznow going a mile in 1:45, the last eighth of a mile in :11 3/5.
"He went super," O'Neill said. "All systems are go."