Pioneer Spirit, Bankit Rivalry Continues in Essex

Before the graded action amps up March 14 at Oaklawn Park with the Azeri Stakes (G2) and Rebel Stakes (G2), $350,000 Essex Handicap gets the stakes underway at the Arkansas oval.

Although the race lacks a grade, it drew graded-quality types to compete for its large purse. Millionaires Bravazo and Snapper Sinclair are within the seven-horse field, though neither is favored. Bravazo, the 2018 Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up, unplaced in all four of his starts in 2019-20, is 8-1 on the morning line, while Snapper Sinclair is 7-2.

Instead, Bankit and Pioneer Spirit are the 5-2 and 3-1 choices, respectively.

Bankit, second in a pair of stakes starts at the current Oaklawn meet, missed by a head in the Razorback Handicap (G3) when he was edged by a stubborn Warrior's Charge, who is bypassing Saturday's race to await the April 18 Oaklawn Handicap (G2). Though outgamed by the winner, he was clear of nine other Razorback runners, including Essex returnees Snapper Sinclair, Pioneer Spirit, Bravazo and Guest Suite.

Video: Razorback H. (G3)

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen starts three horses in the race: Bankit and Snapper Sinclair, plus 9-2 shot Laughing Fox. He has his regular first-call rider, Ricardo Santana Jr., on Bankit, a 4-year-old Central Banker  colt, for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. 

Joel Rosario will ride Snapper Sinclair and Javier Castellano will be on Laughing Fox.

Limited speed in the 1 1/16-mile Essex boosts the chances of Pioneer Spirit, who weakened to fourth in the Razorback after chasing early leader Warrior's Charge. Prior to that race, he narrowly won the Jan. 25 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn over Bankit, just lasting after taking command down the backstretch.

David Cohen will be aboard the 7-year-old Malibu Moon  horse, a four-time stakes winner with earnings of $781,578. He is currently trained by Robertino Diodoro for owners Lawrence Roman, Heads Up Racing, and Lucky Dog Stables.

Entries: Essex H.

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, March 14, 2020, Race 8

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $350,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:17 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Guest Suite (KY)	Martin Garcia	114	Cipriano Contreras	30/1
2	2Night Ops (KY)	Joseph Talamo	117	Brad H. Cox	4/1
3	3Laughing Fox (KY)	Javier Castellano	116	Steven M. Asmussen	9/2
4	4Bankit (NY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	119	Steven M. Asmussen	5/2
5	5Bravazo (KY)	Walter De La Cruz	115	D. Wayne Lukas	8/1
6	6Snapper Sinclair (KY)	Joel Rosario	117	Steven M. Asmussen	7/2
7	7Pioneer Spirit (KY)	David Cohen	119	Robertino Diodoro	3/1