Let’s Meet the Contenders for Saturday’s Grade 3 $500,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn.

#1 Silver Prospector (Ricardo Santana Jr. // Steve Asmussen)
The 2020 Southwest winner has lost all 7 Oaklawn stakes bids since with only 1 in-the-money finish. Exits a confidence-building allowance win over a wet track that would benefit his chances if an off track again. Santana is a 3-time Essex winner (2014, ’15, ’21), teaming with Asmussen to win this 2 years ago aboard Silver State. Santana can become the race’s first 4-time winning jockey. Asmussen also won in 2004 with Private Emblem. One of 4 millionaire earners in the field ($1.3M).

#2 Vittorio (Martin Garcia // Bill Mott)
Son of Ghostzapper makes his first stakes appearance in what will be his ninth career start. Former Simon Callaghan trainee races for Bill Mott for the second time, following a Gulfstream runner-up in allowance company to the graded stakes-winning Charge It. Won while racing second off the layoff in 2021 and broke his maiden in his second start; Vittorio hits the same spot in his form cycle Saturday.

#3 Rated R Superstar (David Cabrera // Martin Villafranco)
10-year-old is the defending Essex champion with Cabrera back aboard for the repeat bid. He also won this race at age 6 and seeks to become the first 3-time Essex victor. His 13 career victories are nearly double that of any other rival in this race. Exits a third in the Fifth Season and fourth in the Razorback already this meet. He was fifth in the 2022 Razorback before a bounce-back win in the Essex. One of 4 millionaire earners in the field (leads at $1.8M, just over $1M of which has come at Oaklawn).

#4 Call Me Fast (Francisco Arrieta // Mike Puhich)
Streaks into the Essex as the hottest horse in the field off back-to-back allowance wins. Son of Dialed In makes his stakes debut in his 10th lifetime start and will be expected to contest the early pace. Jockey Arrieta enters the week as the meet’s second-leading rider behind Christian Torres.

#5 Classic Causeway (Flavien Prat // Kenny McPeek)
Oaklawn debut for last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby and Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby winner. Versatile son of Giant’s Causeway returns to dirt after 5 consecutive turf starts. He scratched from last Saturday’s Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs to tackle this larger purse. Expect him near the front early. One of 4 millionaire earners in the field ($1.3M).

#6 Necker Island (Nik Juarez // Chris Hartman)
The primarily sprinter / miler over the past few years stretches out off a third-place allowance run to open 2023 at 6 furlongs. His last 2-turn win came in an Oaklawn mile allowance 13 months ago, while he’s finished out of the money in all 3 career starts at the Essex distance of 1-1/16 miles.

#7 Forza Di Oro (Florent Geroux // Brad Cox)
Fair Grounds raider exits back-to-back third-place finishes in the Tenacious and Grade 3 Louisiana Handicap, his first 2 starts since coming to trainer Brad Cox. Cox won this race in 2020 with Night Ops. Forza Di Oro won the Grade 3 Discovery and was third in Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup when under Bill Mott’s care in 2021 – and made only a single start in all of 2022. He should be in the front half of the pack pressing the pace.

#8 Tawny Port (Rafael Bejarano // Brad Cox)
Last year’s Grade 3 Lexington and Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner joins Classic Causeway as 2022 Kentucky Derby alumni in this year’s Essex field. Returned in ’23 with a disappointing and no-threat fifth in the Grade 3 Mineshaft at Fair Grounds. Jockey Florent Geroux jumps off to ride stablemate Forza Di Oro. Trainer Cox won this race in 2020 with Night Ops.

#9 Keystone Field (Isaac Castillo // Mike Maker)
Former claimer will be one of the longest shots in the Essex after finishing seventh by more than 20 lengths in the local Grade 3 Razorback. He has won 3 of his prior 4 starts, including a whopping 102 Beyer Speed Figure in a local allowance January 7. Castillo and Maker have a strong 6-for-14 mark in tandem at Oaklawn in 2022-’23.

#10 Last Samurai (Christian Torres // D. Wayne Lukas) * pictured above*
Legendary trainer Lukas seeks his second major local score in a week after his star filly Secret Oath was victorious in last Saturday’s Azeri Stakes. Lukas owns a pair of Essex trophies from 1987 and 1991. Last Samurai won the Grade 3 Razorback in his most recent start and was fourth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup prior to that. Last year’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap winner may be slightly better a bit longer in distance, but is capable at 1-1/16 miles. Christian Torres, the meet’s leading jockey, pilots again. One of 4 millionaire earners in the field ($1.6M, second-most).