Shaman Ghost winning the Brooklyn Invitational (gr. II) at Belmont Park – Coglianese Photos/Nikki Sherman
NYRA Press Release: Stronach Stables’ Shaman Ghost wrapped up his local preparations for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at trainer Jimmy Jerkens’ Belmont Park base Thursday morning.
Hitting the training track shortly after the renovation break, the Grade 1 Woodward winner breezed seven furlongs under exercise Kelvin Pahal, covering the distance in 1:28.66.
“He went good,” Jerkens reported. “He went in [1:]28, which was just what we wanted. He’ll work again in California and he’ll work pretty sharply once he gets out there.”
The 4-year-old Ghostzapper has been working up to the Breeders’ Cup after posting a head victory in the Woodward on September 3 at Saratoga Race Course and earn an all-fees-paid berth into the $6 million Classic on November 5 at Santa Anita Park.
Jerkens said that Shaman Ghost is scheduled to head to Southern California on Wednesday along with stablemate and fellow Classic hopeful Effinex.
Runner-up in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 8, Effinex is expected to breeze once at Belmont before boarding the flight to California, Jerkens said.
“I’m undecided about that guy, when he’s working,” he said. “He doesn’t need a whole lot, he just ran. Since they’re scheduled to leave on Wednesday, we’ll probably do something on Sunday or Monday.”
Although Jerkens indicated earlier in the morning that the riding assignment for Effinex in the Classic was still “up in the air,” Dr. Russel Cohen, breeder of Effinex and manager of his family’s racing stable, confirmed in the afternoon that Southern California-based jockey Flavien Prat will have the call in the Breeders’ Cup.
Hall of Famer Mike Smith had been aboard Effinex for seven of the horse’s last eight starts, including victories in the Grade 1 Clark last fall and the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap earlier this year, but has committed to ride Grade 1 Travers winner Arrogate in the Classic.
“[Flavien is] young and talented. He’s a hot rider that’s been winning with a lot of mounts right now,” said Dr. Cohen. “I don’t know him, but everybody has said he’s a good kid and, most importantly, I think he’ll get along with the horse. He’s not heavy-handed and that’s a big deal – this horse will not tolerate someone making him do something when he doesn’t want to. He’s not going to get along with an aggressive rider. This horse just needs a passenger. We’re happy with it and we’ll just hope for the best.”
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