Expert Pick of the Week: 2022 Essex Handicap

Mar 17, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A well-matched field of eight will go postward in Saturday’s $500,000 Essex H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile event boasts numerous legitimate contenders, and it seems imperative to me to find value in the feature.

The Rodolphe Brisset-trained Beau Luminarie has won or placed in 17 of his 19 lifetime assignments, including at least 10 in succession, which includes a solid third-place showing in the Tinsel S. on the surface most recently. By I Want Revenge, the dark bay has trained well in advance of his 2022 debut and seems poised to notch his initial graded stakes triumph. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Beau Luminarie was especially durable last season when compiling an 11-3-4-4 mark while finishing in the top three in each of his four stakes attempts. The late-running six-year-old possesses a consistent and strong turn of foot, and in a tilt where the pace is expected to be honest at the very least, I believe that he will have every chance to run down the early leaders inside the final furlong at a square price.

The Kentucky-bred put in a fine half-mile breeze in his latest morning move, and his best performance will make him difficult to deny late. Ricardo Santana Jr. retains the mount atop the upset selection.

Conditioner Brad Cox has a pair of formidable foes entered for the contest, led by morning-line choice Plainsman. The seven-year-old son of Flatter has been consistently very good in recent times, and the multiple Grade 3 victor kicked off his 2022 season with a game score in the recent Razorback H. (G3) on the course, as well. Versatile bay will be forcing the early tempo on Saturday under Joel Rosario.

Millionaire Warrior’s Charge shows a 10-4-2-2 mark at Oaklawn in his lifetime, including a 9 3/4-length allowance romp here last time out. The six-year-old son of Munnings has excellent early presence, and I envision that the dark bay Kentucky-bred will track the pace in second early on against this crew. Regular pilot Florent Geroux will guide the win threat.

An exacta with Beau Luminarie over Plainsman and Warrior’s Charge in the Essex Handicap is the Best Bet of the Week.