Effinex Draws Post 3 in Stephen Foster

Effinex, who last year won the Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, will look to add to his legacy there June 18 when he takes on six rivals in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I).

Tri-Bone Stables' 5-year-old son of Mineshaft   makes the second start of his 2016 season in the 1 1/8-mile Foster, coming off an April 16 victory in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. He drew post 3 in a field of seven, and will be ridden by Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, who fills in for Mike Smith as that fellow Hall of Famer pilots champion Songbird in the Summertime Oaks (gr. II) on the same day on the West Coast.

"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."

ANGST: Effinex Returns to Winning Ways in Oaklawn 'Cap

Effinex tuned up for the Foster with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.05 on the Belmont Park training track June 10. He carries high weight of 122 pounds on the merits of his 2015 Clark score, prior to which he ran second to champion American Pharoah   in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

"He's coming in real good," Jerkens said of Effinex, who boasts a record of 22-8-2-4 for earnings of $2,682,950. "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."

The Foster is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event, granting the winner a spot in the starting gate for the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic plus pre-entry and entry fees paid.

Effinex will attempt to join No Marker (1989-90), Saint Liam (2004-05) and Blame (2009-10) as horses who won the Clark in the fall and returned to Churchill Downs to win next spring's Stephen Foster. 

May 28 Eclipse Stakes (Can-II) winner Are You Kidding Me and May 6 Alysheba Stakes (gr. II) winner Majestic Harbor come next in the weights at 118. Are You Kidding Me will make his first dirt start since the 2013 Florida Derby (gr. I) and only his second in 26 lifetime starts. Majestic Harbor was fourth in this race last year for trainer Paul McGee, and keeps chasing another grade I score to go with his 2014 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (gr. I) win.

Eight-year-old Majestic Harbor readied for the Foster with a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 the morning of June 8 at Churchill Downs. He will attempt to surpass 7-year-old Honor Medal (1988) as the oldest Stephen Foster winner, and has won 10 races and $1,246,814 in 41 starts over the past six years.

"I think he's gotten even better than he's ever been," jockey Corey Lanerie said. "He sure seems that way. Right now, he's a happy, happy horse."

BLOOD-HORSE STAFF: Majestic Harbor Breezes Toward Foster



Eagle, runner-up to Majestic Harbor in the Alysheba last out and winner of the April 16 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland the start before that, makes his first grade I appearance. Trainer Neil Howard will give a leg up to regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr.; the duo departs the outside post.

Rounding out the field are grade II winner El Kabeir, who took the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) at Churchill as a 2-year-old and returns to dirt off a failed turf experiment in the Longines Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) at Pimlico Race Course May 21; grade II winner Bradester, who won the May 21 Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth Park; and grade II winner International Star, who comes off a six in the April 23 Charles Town Classic (gr. II).