The Essex Handicap – Grade III
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $600.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Kylo Ren Luz International Vazquez R A

Well, there you go the magic trick of that switch from dirt to turf in a handicap rears its head again. Reading back that sentence may sound disparaging but it isn’t meant to be at all because I had tipped this horse not on the strength of its turf form but the fact that it went from a horse that had run every one but one of its races on turf and yet could turn a 1.36 flat dirt mile work. I don’t care what anyone says turf and dirt are not the same here as they are in real life and a good horse like this that gets near bottom weight is an irresistible force in a handicap. Even running impossibly wide could not stop him from winning pretty easily and one could argue that although he had made his mark on turf he may be as good if not even better on dirt.
Congrats to the owner who is going to have some fun with this one in the months to come on any surface.

2nd Lion Lake Mb Stables Rosario J

Another of the low weights thanks to a career that went from graded stakes to overnights in the last 12 months there was no doubting his chances before the race after some strong works and sure enough he ran a cracker to be second. Gunning to the front like so many of the Mb horses do, he had used his turn of foot too early and as usual when they were not clear on the turn something was waiting to pounce.

3rd Chais Thrill Mwn Racing Alvarado J

It may have taken eleven races for this one to break his maiden last time but I am pretty sure that won’t be his last win this year. Closing well he was doing all his best work in the final furlong and certainly sent out all the right messages that his improvement curve has finally started moving in the right direction.

4th Eight West Party TwinTowersRacing Jaramillo E

It is always a bit funny how much a pound or two can stop a horse when you call the race a handicap. This was the first of the more established dirt stars home and he could only manage fourth after a reversal of tactics saw him closing again after his last run. If ever there was a race that makes us remember that this is a game of software and algorithms then it is these handicaps, but still, they are unique in their way and add to the intriguing joy of playing at HRP.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES