Catch a Glimpse, Effinex doing well following Saturday graded wins

Edited Press Release

Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse has emerged from her half-length victory in Saturday's Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) in good shape, according to trainer Mark Casse's Belmont-based assistant Randi Melton Sunday morning.

"She's fantastic," Melton said of the City Zip filly. "She ate up everything, her legs are good, she's happy."

Catch a Glimpse will be part of Casse's summer string at Saratoga, along with the likes of Noble Bird, Airoforce and champion turf mare Tepin.

Melton commended Grade 2 hero Airoforce for his effort in Saturday's Belmont Derby Invitational (G1), where he traveled wide and raced from off the pace to finish 10th in a highly competitive edition of the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival centerpiece.

"He only got beat three lengths; he ran huge," she said. "We're very happy with him. This turf course isn't easy to close on and that's what he likes to do. He still ran a very good race and he came out of it great."

Effinex pulled out a neck victory to defend his title in the Suburban Handicap (G2) on Stars & Stripes Festival Day.

Still beaming following Saturday’s win, practicing veterinarian Dr. Russell Cohen, who bred the five-year-old son of Mineshaft who, in turn, is owned by his family's Tri-Bone Stables, was still in awe of the performance put forth by the Grade 1 winner.

"I'm honored by the whole thing," Cohen said. "Overwhelmed, it's really cool for a horse to do something that special."

Effinex came back from the race in good order, according to Ken Sweezey, assistant to trainer Jimmy Jerkens, but there are no set plans for the back-to-back Suburban winner's next race.

Sweezey also commented on Effinex stablemate Shaman Ghost, winner of the June 11 Brooklyn Handicap (G2) who finished fifth in Saturday's Suburban.

"He's fine," he said. "He's a hard-knocking horse. I'm not sure if the trip was really right for him but Joel (Rosario) said that it just wasn't his day but he still has confidence in the horse."

In other news from Saturday’s stakes, Highland Sky exited the Belmont Derby in good order after coming within a neck of his first career Grade 1 victory with a second-place showing for trainer Barclay Tagg. The Sky Mesa three-year-old moved from 11th at the top of the stretch to just behind winner Deauville in the 1 1/4-mile race on the inner turf.

"That's the way he likes to run, but it gets him in trouble sometimes," Tagg said. "But he came out of the race well. So far, so good."

Tagg added that Highland Sky will be considered for the Secretariat Stakes (G1) sending sophomores 1 1/4 miles over Arlington’s turf on August 13.

Tagg said that Tale of S'avall, who finished third in Saturday’s Dwyer Stakes (G3), is being pointed toward the $500,000 King's Bishop Stakes (G1) going seven furlongs on August 27 at Saratoga.

"I want to make him a miler if I can, but they have to cooperate," Tagg said. "Seven furlongs should suit him."

Catch a Glimpse photo courtesy of NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography