The 78th running of the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3), a 1 1/8-mile test for 4-year-olds and up at Oaklawn Park, is set for Saturday. Eight runners will head postward, all assigned imposts based on the race’s traditional handicap conditions.
Inaugurated in 1948 as the Southland Handicap and renamed in 1973 to honor the old Essex Park racetrack, the race has evolved over the years, from as short as 6 furlongs to its current distance. It gained Grade 3 status in 1985, though it was briefly downgraded and restored in 2022, and serves as a key prep for the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
Most notable winners include repeat victors Little Imp (1953-55), Racetracker (1958-59), Sado (1971-72) and Rated R Superstar (2019, 2022); Silver Goblin’s seven-length blowout in 1995 and several other horses that completed the Essex-Oaklawn Handicap double (e.g., Swift Ruler in 1966, who also swept the Razorback for a treble, and Silver State in 2021).
Recent standouts feature First Mission’s track record of 1:49.76 in 2024 and Red Route One’s 2025 score. Trainers Steve Asmussen and the late D. Wayne Lukas each have three wins. Five jockeys are tied with three wins each.
Skippylongstocking (4-5) is the clear class of the field and a veteran of 36 starts with 13 wins, coming off his upset score in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in January. The 7-year-old Exaggerator gelding is a versatile mid-pack stalker/closer who rates kindly off the pace before unleashing a powerful late kick. Other career highlights include the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap win in 1:49, plus victories in the 2025 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) at 1 ¼ miles, 2025 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3), and a pair of Charles Town Classic (G2) scores. He’s 3-for-3 at 1 1/8 miles on dirt lately and owns top speed figures in the field. Even toting a top weight of 124 pounds, his proven stakes efforts and recent form make him the one to beat, though he was scratched from the Santa Anita Handicap after a mishap loading for the airplane bound for California. Micah Husbands rides for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.
Accelerize (9-2), a lightly raced and rapidly improving 4-year-old Omaha Beach colt, has only five starts on his resume with three wins, including the Louisiana Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds two back. He will wear blinkers for the first time for trainer Todd Pletcher, which may help fine-tune his preferred position up behind the pace, stalking, and pressing. Most recently, he finished second by a head in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) also at the Fair Grounds over 1 1/16 miles, and his improving form, based on his nice speed figures, and 100% in-the-money record position him as the main danger. John Velazquez will ride, and if this colt handles the class jump and extra distance against proven routers getting six pounds from the favorite, he’s solid value.
Is coming off a gate-to-wire allowance victory at Oaklawn six weeks ago over 1 1/16 miles in his first start of 2026. Before that, he hadn’t won a race since September of 2024 while racing mostly in exclusively stakes company, but his recent local success and consistent speed figures overall give him a live shot at a share, though he’ll need to step up against graded company from the far outside. Brendan Walsh trains the Classic Empire gelding, and recent California transplant Ramon Vazquez will be in the irons.
Ships in from New York off a second in the Toboggan Stakes in his 2026 debut. This 5-year-old Solomini horse is a tactical speed/presser with multiple Aqueduct stakes wins against state-breds on his resume. He won three of eight starts last year but is unproven stretching beyond a mile and has never won past that distance. He’s been training over the Oaklawn surface for a month and could steal a share with his front-end style if the pace melts, but the 1 1/8 miles is a big question mark. Ricardo Santana, Jr., who was aboard Silver State for the win here in 2021, rides for trainer John Ortiz.
Has shown mid-pack versatility and just won an allowance here at 1 1/8 miles six weeks ago. The inside post is a plus for saving ground while stalking, and his local form makes him a live longshot who could improve with the rail trip, though he’s up against deeper quality. The 6-year-old Union Rags horse is trained by Matt Shirer and will be ridden by Abel Cedillo.
Who is trained by Kenny McPeek and will be ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel, typically races mid-pack. The 5-year-old Goldencents gelding finished third in the Razorback Handicap (G3) off a five-month layoff and has his maiden score over this track in 2024 on his resume. Couple that with a 79% in-the-money rate in his career, and it makes sense to give him a chance for a placing.
For Steve Asmussen with Erik Asmussen aboard and Runaway Again (15-1) for David Jacobsen with Rafael Bejarano up, round out the field.
Duke of Duval, a 5-year-old Arrogate colt with three career wins, is a developing mid-pack type who was fourth in his stakes debut in the Mineshaft. The Asmussen barn form and inside post help, but he needs a breakout performance to factor.
A 4-year-old Hard Spun gelding showed solid speed figures in shorter races and may stretch out effectively. His light campaign in mostly Canada, with a stop in Kentucky on the way, makes him an interesting longshot wild card.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | M/L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mackman | A Cedillo | M A Shirer | 10/1 | |
| 2 | Duke of Duval | E Asmussen | S M Asmussen | 15/1 | |
| 3 | Gould's Gold | E Esquivel | K G McPeek | 12/1 | |
| 4 | Runaway Again | R Bejarano | D Jacobson | 15/1 | |
| 5 | Skippylongstocking | M J Husbands | S A Joseph, Jr. | 4/5 | |
| 6 | Accelerize | C A Torres | T A Pletcher | 9/2 | |
| 7 | Doc Sullivan | R Santana, Jr. | J A Ortiz | 8/1 | |
| 8 | San Siro | R A Vazquez | B P Walsh | 6/1 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
