Effinex pulled a 17-1 upset in the $300,000 Empire Classic Handicap, the richest race on Belmont Park’s Saturday program devoted to New York breds.
A 3-year-old trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Effinex got his first stakes victory with a determined stretch rally that wore down the pacesetting So Lonesome. Effinex and jockey Angel Arroyo got up by a neck in 1:48.51 for the 1 1/8 miles, paying $37.20, $12.80 and $8.30. Sold and Bred by Best A Luck