HOT SPRINGS, AR – – The most accomplished entrant in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) delivered.

Ridden for the first time by Keith Asmussen, millionaire multiple graded stakes winner Red Route One rolled to a 4 ½-length victory over Tarantino in the 1 1/8-mile race for older horses Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.

The Essex was a major local prep for the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 19.

The late-running Red Route One finished third in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap, which was his first start after winning the $500,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) a month earlier at Fair Grounds. As a 3-year-old in 2023, Red Route One also won the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer and Oaklawn’s $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes. Both races were 1 1/8 miles.

Asmussen rode Red Route One for his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, and owner Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron and Joan Winchell), which also bred the 5-year-old son of champion Gun Runner. Red Route One ($12.40) was last early as stablemate Unload, Tarantino and Patriot Spirit battled through a swift :46.25 half-mile. Red Route trailed by 10 lengths after a half-mile, but he began to move closer to the leaders on the second turn while saving ground. Keith Asmussen steered Red Route One to the outside of Tarantino and Patriot Spirt turning for home and pulled away from his rivals in the final furlong.

Tarantino finished three lengths ahead of Speed Bias, who was followed, in order, by Patriot Spirit, 6-5 favorite Kinetic and Upload. Maycocks Bay was scratched, reducing the starting field to six.

Red Route One, under 118 pounds, ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:51.67.

Red Route One had been 0 for 2 at the meeting, finishing a distant fourth in the $175,000 Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 5 and a non-threatening seventh in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 23.

Red Route One ($2,127,857) surpassed $2 million in career earnings with his sixth victory from 25 starts. He is a four-time graded stakes winner and has five stakes victories overall.

$175,000 PURPLE MARTIN STAKES

Team Serengeti Empress – owner Joel Politi and trainer Tom Amoss – returned to the Oaklawn winner’s circle Saturday with Kimchi Cat in the $175,000 Purple Martin Stakes.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Kimchi Cat took the lead on the outside turning for home and drew away late for a four-length victory over Kentucky Smokeshow in the Purple Martin, which was for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Kimchi Cat’s victory came a little more than five years after Politi and Amoss teamed to win Oaklawn’s $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares with Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks champion.

Kentucky Smokeshow finished a neck ahead of Eskenforaraise, who was followed, in order, by Battleshipper, Glee, Gunite Max and previously unbeaten Accelerating, the 3-2 favorite. The speedy Accelerating, in tight after breaking from the rail, was shuffled back early and never a factor.

Kimchi Cat, meanwhile, broke alertly from post 4 and pressed Battleshipper through an opening quarter-mile of :22.44 and a :46.76 half-mile. Kimchi Cat seized command in the upper stretch and increased her margin in the final furlong. Kimchi Cat ($5.20) was the 8-5 second choice in the seven-horse field.

Kimchi Cat, who was making her 2025 debut, ran six furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.91.

Kimchi Cat returned to sprinting after being eased as the favorite in her final start at 2, the $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at one mile Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs. Both of Kimchi Cat’s two victories last year were at 5 ½ furlongs, including the $150,000 off-the-turf Bolton Landing Stakes Aug. 18 at Saratoga.

A daughter of Twirling Candy, Kimchi Cat increased her career earnings to $263,665 following her third victory from five starts. She was purchased for $185,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Kimchi Cat was saddled by assistant trainer Chris Richard, who oversees Amoss’ Oaklawn division.

ESSEX HANDICAP QUOTES

WINNING JOCKEY KEITH ASMUSSEN (RED ROUTE ONE): “World of confidence on Red Route One. In the first turn, I could

see they were, not exactly fighting, but somewhat of a bar fight and I’m just sitting behind that. World of confidence in that horse. Been getting on him for the duration of his career. And this week, I’ve been telling the bosses, like: ‘Oh, he’s pretty fiery and ready to go.’ So, I couldn’t be more excited to do it for Winchell and my father.”

FIFTH-PLACE JOCKEY CRISTIAN TORRES (KINETIC): “It was very disappointing. As soon as the gate opened, he never got engaged. I was trying to get him into the race. He never picked up the bit. Going into the first turn, he kind of threw his head a little bit and I’m trying to get him into the race. But he never grabbed the bit. He never got engaged in the race at all. I started to ride him early, right before the (half-mile pole), to try and get him going. Honestly, very disappointing. He never got engaged.”

PURPLE MARTIN QUOTES

WINNING JOCKEY RAFAEL BEJARANO (KIMCHI CAT): “The filly had a beautiful trip. She was in the race right away. I was surprised when the 2 (Battleshipper) broke cleaner than the No. 1 (Accelerating). I thought the 1 was the only speed. When I saw the 2 go right away to the lead and go to the rail, I just followed her, waiting as much as I can. The filly has so much class. I waited as long as I could. Coming into the stretch, when they came to attack me, I asked my filly and she showed a turn of foot. It was an amazing race.”

WINNING OWNER JOEL POLITI (KIMCHI CAT): “She’s a really good mover. He (Rafael Bejarano) had her in hand, sitting on her. Sat outside the speed and when he asked her to go, she went. We’ll probably keep her sprinting. She looks like a sprinter and she fits really well at this distance. There’s lots of really fun races this whole year for her. So, yeah, we’ll keep her sprinting.”