Loading ...Apr 16 2016
Melatonin can’t put Effinex to sleep in 2016 Oaklawn Handicap; Recap and Replay
Saturday, April 16 2016
Oaklawn Park
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Melatonin ran a strong race at 2-1, setting the pace for a half mile with moderate fractions, but down the stretch couldn’t keep favored Effinex from running him down.
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Effinex
NYRA -Joe Labozetta
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Effinex was the actual favorite at 8-5, and proved his worth by separating from Melatonin and the rest of the field in the stretch for the G2 win. He also turned the tables on Melatonin, who beat him in the Big Cap G1 last month.
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But Effinex was too much this time, despite the more moderate fractions and a shorter race than the Big Cap, which Melatonin ran almost 2 seconds faster at the half.
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Both of these will most likely end up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic this fall, and both have 10f graded stakes victories. Effinex has won two 10f graded stakes and finished 2nd to American Pharoah in the BCC last year.
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The other contenders weren’t much of a factor, but Point Piper delivered a nice closing run for 3rd at 40-1. Blofeld was part of the early pace and hung on for 4th at 5-1.
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Video replay below
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