Effinex reels in Red Rifle to win the Excelsior
Effinex came flying late and got up just in time on Saturday to win the $200,000 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Effinex (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was fifth early on as Red Rifle (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went out to set the fractions which were quite moderate given the ten furlong distance of the Excelsior. Favored Wicked Strong sat second just behind Red Rifle and as they came to the quarter pole, Red Rifle kicked away for home. Wicked Strong couldn’t keep pace as Effinex came flying with a four wide move to get into second. Red Rifle kept on battling but it was Effinex who got up in the final yards and scored the win by three quarters of a length. Red Rifle was second while Wicked Strong could only manage third.
Si Sage pulls off a shocking upset in the Last Tycoon at Santa Anita
Si Sage drew off down the lane in the $100,000 Last Tycoon Stakes like a 4/5 shot, but at 42/1, it was clear most didn’t think he had a chance. Si Sage and Elvis Trujillo sat second early on as Joes Blazing Aaron set the early pace in the mile and one quarter grass event. Joes Blazing Aaron kept the lead til the top of the stretch when Si Sage blew right on by and opened up to win by three and a quarter lengths over Ganesh (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who flew late to grab second by a nose over Abbey Vale who finished third. Si Sage returned a whopping $87.60 to win for just a $2 bet.
Cinco Charlie takes home the top honors in the William Walker Stakes
Cinco Charlie went right to the front and never looked back as he scored a convincing win in the William Walker Stakes on opening night at Churchill Downs. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Cinco Charlie (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) blasted through a first quarter mile in 21.85 seconds and came to the top of the lane with a length lead. Favored Blofeld (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and Senor Grits (BetPTC.com Top Selection) started to give chase but Ricardo Santana Jr. and Cinco Charlie were able to hold them at bay, winning by a length and a quarter of Senor Grits who finished second.