Oaklawn Stakes Race Recap - $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3)

Millionaire Grade 1 winner Skippylongstocking, as expected, made short work of his overmatched rivals Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.

Moving easily to the lead on the second turn, even-money favorite Skippylongstocking cruised to a 5 ¼-length victory in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.

The Essex was the most lucrative career victory for jockey Micah Husbands, 23, who rode Skippylongstocking for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and owner Daniel Alonso. Husbands, who had never been on the horse before, Joseph and Alonso are all based in south Florida.

Mackman finished a distant second, a neck ahead of San Siro, who was followed, in order, by Gould’s Gold, Duke of Duval, Accelerize and Doc Sullivan. The starting field was reduced to seven after Runaway Again was scratched when he became fractious in the gate.

Skippylongstocking’s winning time over a fast track was a meet-best 1:48.82 and easily the quickest since the Essex was extended from 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 miles in 2024. Skippylongstocking took a short lead after six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.33 and drew off in the stretch.

Skippylongstocking paid $4.20, $3.60 and $2.60. Mackman paid $10.80 and $5.60. San Siro paid $5.40. Skippylongstocking carried 124 pounds, seven more than Mackman.

Skippylongstocking recorded his 12^th career stakes victory – all graded – and increased his overall earnings to $5,746,250 after winning for the 14^th time in 37 starts. The 7-year-old son of Preakness champion Exaggerator has won his last three starts, including the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

He also won the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in 2024 at Oaklawn and ran third in last year’s event.

Alonso purchased Skippylongstocking for just $37,000 at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in training.

The Essex was a major local prep for the $1.25 million Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 18.

Saturday’s estimated attendance was 34,000. Total mutuel handle was $7,161,377.

Racing resumes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (Central).

Essex Quotes

Winning Jockey Micah Husbands (Skippylongstocking): He broke sharp. I didn’t take anything away from him. He just showed his class. That’s it. There’s nothing much I can say. He’s just a good horse.”

Winning Trainer Saffie Joseph J. Via Phone (Skippylongstocking): “Obviously before the race, you’re the favorite. There’s a lot of pressure and you’re thinking all different variables, but it worked out great. He was very impressive once again. If two horses went, we were going to sit. Obviously, the other horse (Doc Sullivan) didn’t break that well, so then he was kind of positioned that they were going to stack him wide, and I thought Micah (Husbands) made a very smart move there to go forward. Obviously, the pace is quick at that point. You’re a little concerned. But he was chasing the horse (Accelerize) that was supposed to be the horse to beat after him. He put that horse away quite easily and did it well.”