The Essex Handicap (Grade lll)

Purse $500.000 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

1 1/16 Miles – Dirt

Oaklawn Park – March 21, 2026

After a short detour on the turf, Sick Boi found his way back to the winner’s circle, capturing the 6th running of the Essex Handicap. The son of Neon Wolf earned his first graded stakes victory after being privately purchased for $225.000 in 2024, pushing his lifetime earnings to $957.800. Royalty Stables secured their first win in the race, along with jockey Emmanuel Esquivel. After drawing off by more than five lengths in the stretch, the message was clear—Sick Boi won’t be returning to the turf anytime soon and he’s clearly rounding into the best form of his career. Congratulations to the connections on an impressive performance. 

Winner: Sick Boi – (Royalty Stables, E. Esquivel) After breaking from the gate, Sick Boi settled near the back of the field, sitting second to last and about six lengths off the pace. He found a comfortable rhythm down the backside as Tehran set swift fractions up front. Approaching the ⅜ pole, the five-year-old began to make his run, though he didn’t pass a rival until inside the final furlong. Traffic developed at the top of the lane, leaving jockey Emmanuel Esquivel searching for racing room. Finally, at the 1/16 pole, Sick Boi surged clear, set his sights on the leader, and got up in the nick of time. No doubt a huge effort!

Second Place: Agent Zero – (Mb Stables, J A. Torres) After a late jockey change from Jose Ortiz to Jaime Torres, Mb Stables took a shot with this gelding, and it paid off nicely. Sent off as the morning line favorite, Agent Zero settled in the second flight just behind the early pace. He enjoyed a two-wide trip throughout and angled out in the final furlong to take aim at the leader. While he was ultimately out finished by Sick Boi, it was a strong showing in his first time around two turns as well as his first time on dirt. He figures to be a major player in another stakes race next time out.

Third Place: Twin Jet Engines – (Night Rider Stables, R A. Vazquez) This son of Twin Towers is proving to be a highly productive claim following changes in tactics and equipment. He has earned over $85.000 in just two starts after being claimed for $16.000. Twin Jet Engines traveled comfortably three-wide down the backside before beginning to make up ground approaching the quarter pole. He was pushed out to four-wide at the ⅛ pole by the eventual winner, which likely compromised his chances of a better placing. All in all, it was a strong effort, and the connections have to be pleased second off the claim.

Fourth Place: Tehran – (Mb Stables, L. Saez) Tehran was the expected pacesetter, and there were no surprises early. He quickly opened up a two-length advantage and set solid fractions of 23.17, 46.67, and 1:10.46. It was a relatively uneventful trip until the top of the stretch, when the top three finishers began to close in. Inside the final fifty yards, he was overtaken and ultimately faded to fourth. In truth, had Sick Boi found running room earlier, the margin of defeat likely would have been greater. The son of Silhouette may simply need the right field and a bit of racing luck to return to the winner’s circle.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES