Connections comment on strong efforts by BC NY-bred runners-up La Verdad & Effinex

[1]by Sarah Mace

La Verdad was caught in the stretch by Wavell Avenue after setting the pace in the Grade 1, $1 Million TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs just one week after coming from off the pace to romp in the Iroquois:

• Trainer Linda Rice: “She held on pretty well considering how fast they went [22.53, 45.12, 1:09.54, 1:22.39]. Seven furlongs is a bit of a reach for her but I am not disappointed that we came.”
• Jockey Jose Ortiz: “It was very good. My filly broke very sharply. I took the lead like she wanted. I think she’s awesome. Wavell Avenue is a nice filly and last time we met we beat her by half a length. She beat me by maybe two lengths today and maybe the seven furlongs made the difference. My filly is more of a six – six and a half sprinter. We tried to make seven furlongs and we did pretty good. This is one special horse for me.”

Effinex shadowed winner American Pharoah throughout the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles and kept on well to finish second by 6 1/2 lengths.

• Trainer James Jerkens: “I’m ecstatic. I was happy to see him sitting second early and not being rank. American Pharoah started pulling away on the backside but he stayed second. It was unbelievable.”
• Jockey Mike Smith: “Once we hit the 3/8 pole I thought ‘Don’t panic, don’t panic. Maybe we can hold on for second,’ Passing the 3/8 pole we really picked it up. The real guy (American Pharoah) showed up today.”
• And on Sunday, Tri-Bone Stables’ Dr. Russell Cohen: “He’s sound as a dollar, we could enter him back this week. He ran against perhaps the best horse to run in 100 years. For him to be in contention with Pharoah the whole way, I’m pretty proud of him. He may run again this year, but he will definitely run again next year.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/10/31/bc-runners-up-la-verdad-effinex/

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