The stage is set for a highly competitive $600,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park March 23. The field of nine 4-year-olds and up will navigate the 1 1/8-mile course. Leading that charge is Magic Tap .
The Kentucky-bred son of Tapit has made both of his starts as a 4-year-old at Oaklawn with good results. He started with a win in an allowance for older horses who have never won three races. He followed that on Feb. 24 by running second by three-quarters of a length in the Razorback Handicap (G3).
His most notable start prior to the Razorback came last year in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), where he finished fourth behind Saudi Crown , Dreamlike , and Il Miracolo .
“Like him at a mile and an eighth, you know, some new shooters in there, First Mission. And he’s definitely got his work cut out for him. But he’s a nice, nice horse that is really close to being an excellent horse,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.
First Mission should provide quite a challenge to the field. The Godolphin homebred has plenty of experience in graded company, having done so in three of his six career starts. His ninth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) last time out was not indicative of his form. It was the only time he didn’t have a top-two finish.
His other graded starts were a win in the Lexington Stakes (G3) and a second in the Clark Stakes (G2).
Entries: Essex H. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, March 23, 2024, Race 9
- Grade III
- 1 1/8m
- Dirt
- $600,000
- 4 yo’s & up
- 4:55 PM (local)
HOT SPRINGS STAKES
The race preceding the Essex is the Hot Springs Stakes featuring 3-year-olds and up going a mile on the dirt. Asmussen has a pair of starters in Otto the Conqueror and Carbone , who will be breaking from gates 1 and 2, respectively, Saturday afternoon.
For Otto the Conqueror, the Hot Springs is a move back to a friendlier distance. His last time out, the Street Sense colt finished sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn against a field filled with Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls. Going back to a mile, which proved a successful distance in the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes, Otto the Conqueror hopes to recapture that magic.
Carbone finished seventh, right behind his stablemate, in the Southwest, and then gave it another go at 1 1/16 miles in the Rebel Stakes (G2), where he was sixth.
“We tried the Derby trail and I think they’re better at a mile and this is a very good spot for them. Both (have) drawn well, where they can use their natural speed to their advantage,” Asmussen said.
Not to be discounted, Lecomte Stakes (G3) second Nash and upstart Count Dracula , who finished second in the Black Gold Stakes, look to build their resumes.
Entries: Hot Springs S.
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, March 23, 2024, Race 8
- STK
- 1m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 3 yo
- 4:22 PM (local)
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