In a surprising move from trainer Kenny McPeek, Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper Family Living Trust's Classic Causeway is entered in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) March 18 at Oaklawn Park.
The 4-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, a grade 1 turf winner for McPeek last summer, hasn't raced on the main track since finishing third in the Ohio Derby (G3) nine months ago. Classic Causeway was grade 1-placed as a juvenile and captured two graded stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs early in his sophomore campaign before being switched to the grass.
A natural frontrunner, Classic Causeway will likely be on the lead in the 1 1/16-mile Essex, where he could get pressure from New Orleans shipper Forza Di Oro and Call Me Fast, who's won his last two starts in gate-to-wire fashion over the Oaklawn strip.
Last seen fading to sixth in the Oct. 29 Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland, Classic Causeway has fired two straight five-furlong bullet works over the main track at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots heading into Saturday's race. Flavien Prat will be aboard Classic Causeway.
Willis Horton Racing's Last Samurai , trained by D. Wayne Lukas, enters the Essex off a gallant victory in the Feb. 18 Razorback Handicap (G3).
Forza Di Oro, from the always dangerous Brad Cox barn, will look for his second graded score following consecutive third-place efforts in stakes company at Fair Grounds, both times behind Happy American and Mr. Wireless.
Entries: Essex H. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, March 18, 2023, Race 9
- Grade III
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $500,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 4:54 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Silver Prospector (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 118 | Steven M. Asmussen | 6/1 |
| 2 | 2Vittorio (KY) | Martin Garcia | 116 | William I. Mott | 3/1 |
| 3 | 3Rated R Superstar (KY) | David Cabrera | 118 | Martin Villafranco | 20/1 |
| 4 | 4Call Me Fast (KY) | Francisco Arrieta | 116 | Michael Puhich | 15/1 |
| 5 | 5Classic Causeway (KY) | Flavien Prat | 119 | Kenneth G. McPeek | 15/1 |
| 6 | 6Necker Island (KY) | Nik Juarez | 118 | Chris A. Hartman | 8/1 |
| 7 | 7Forza Di Oro (KY) | Florent Geroux | 117 | Brad H. Cox | 7/2 |
| 8 | 8Tawny Port (KY) | Rafael Bejarano | 117 | Brad H. Cox | 15/1 |
| 9 | 9Keystone Field (KY) | Isaac Castillo | 116 | Michael J. Maker | 15/1 |
| 10 | 10Last Samurai (KY) | Cristian A. Torres | 121 | D. Wayne Lukas | 5/2 |
