Effinex holds off Hopportunity in Clark

Effinex (Mineshaft), a distant second to American Pharoah in last month’s
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), also

ended his season on a high note Friday at Churchill Downs with a three-quarters
of a length victory in the $500,000 Clark H. (G1). Holding 2014 Clark winner
Hopportunity (Any Given Saturday) at bay, the Jimmy Jerkens trainee earned his
first top-level win in a time of 1:48.92 for 1 1/8 miles

For the full recap, visit the TwinSpires blog via the above link.

Also at the blog on Friday:

Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) stalked and pounced his way to victory in
the $250,000 Seabiscuit H. (G2) at Del Mar.

Almasty (Scat Daddy) was left alone on the lead and dominated the $100,000
Commonwealth Turf (G3) for three-year-olds on the Clark undercard.

Taris (Flatter), with substitute rider Joel Rosario,

proved too classy for her rivals in the $300,000 Go for Wand H. (G3) at Aqueduct.

Multiple Grade 1 winner

Hard Not to Like (Hard Spun) leads a full field in Sunday’s $300,000 Matriarch
(G1) at Del Mar.

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer celebrated his 7,000th career win at
Golden Gate Fields on Thanksgiving Day.

Dortmund (Big Brown) tops Saturday’s Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar on a card that
also includes the Hollywood Derby (G1).

Recaps of stakes, graded and otherwise, from Thursday and Wednesday:

Hollywood Turf Cup (G2)

Falls City H. (G2)

Fall Highweight H. (G3).

River City H. (G3).

Fabulous Strike H. and Swatara from Penn National