Essex

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of 10 will be led to the gate for the 57th running of the Essex H.
(G3) at Oaklawn Park Saturday. SAINTLY LOOK (Saint Ballado) comes into this 1 1/16-mile event off a victory
in a lower class handicap in which he defeated DISCREET HERO (Honour and Glory).
He shows consistently improving form, earning a 104 BRIS Speed figure for his
effort. One negative point in this race is that the Jeff Talley trainee has
drawn the outside post, which has only been winning at a 5 percent clip for the
meet. However, the dark bay five-year-old retains the services of Rafael Mojica Jr., who
has ridden Saintly Look very well in his past three starts.

Discreet Hero had a disappointing effort last out when he dueled for the lead
in the opening fractions, but hit a wall and backed up for the remainder of the
race. His previous performances tell us to throw this one out. In his five
races prior, the Bernie Flint charge earned five consecutive century-topping
Speed figures. The gelding’s only downfall here could come if a speed duel
materializes with MAUK FOUR (Boston Harbor). Jockey Calvin Borel, who has five
wins over the past week, has the call.

RIVER MOUNTAIN RD (Deputy Commander) is the Oaklawn veteran of the field
with four wins from seven starts under his belt, including a victory against
allowance company last out. The Robert Holthus trainee placed four times in
seven tries at this distance and could be dangerous should a fast pace develop
up front. John McKee will be aboard.

WALLY’S CHOICE (Quick Cut) won the Oklahoma Derby (G3) in November after
making an impressive last to first run and recording the highest Speed
figure of his career. He finished at the back of the pack in the Maxxam Gold
Cup, however, against a talented group last out and will try to improve off that
outing. The Michael Biehier-trained bay has an affinity for this distance, with three wins in as many starts. With morning-line odds of 20-1, he is one to keep
in mind while at the windows. Luis Quinonez will ride.

Mauk Four comes off a pair of wins and a close second last out. All of these
were at a mile and the increase in distance could prove to hinder his
performance. He steps up in class to challenge the graded stakes waters for the
first time since finishing ninth in the Lone Star Derby (G3) back in 2003.
SEPARATO (Victory Gallop) has five wins in six starts at this distance. The Tim
Ritchey trainee loomed five wide last out, but still managed to finish a close
fifth. He has some fast late-end speed that could put him near the front as the
group crosses the wire.

ABSENT FRIEND (Runaway Groom) will be making his first start for trainer Cole
Norman. The five-year-old gelding made a late run in the Tenacious H. two
back but just failed to place on the board. His late speed could land him on
the bottom of the gimmicks. NORTHERN SCENE (Northern Baby) weakened in the
closing strides of the Colonel E.R. Bradley H. and wound up finishing last. He will
attempt to improve on that position here, but his Speed figures are well below
the field average.

CROWNED KING (Barkerville) comes off a close fourth last out against River
Mountain Rd, Mauk Four and ARBITRATE (Deputy Minister), but only had one win
in 15 starts last year. Arbitrate has a poor record at this distance, having
never won in eight tries. We’ll let these two beat us here.