How to bet with, and against, Plainsman, in the Essex Handicap

Plainsman wins the Razorback Stakes (Photo by Coady Photography)

March 17th, 2022

A strong and well-matched field of eight will vie in the $500,000 Essex H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile dirt endeavor is led by #4 Plainsman (2-1), who is one of two in the cast for conditioner Brad Cox.

By Flatter, the seven-year-old millionaire has been in fine form dating back to last season where he bagged a trio of stakes wins, as well as finishing a creditable third in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) in his 2021 finale.

Plainsman is a three-time winner on the Oaklawn Park surface and was game in victory to kick start 2022 when taking the Razorback H. (G3) on the grounds. The Shortleaf Stable color bearer can be equally effective when running from on the pace, or from off of the early lead, and the bay also has room to improve in his second start of the campaign. He retains the services of Joel Rosario on Saturday, and his top effort will make him difficult to upend.

I believe that the Rodolphe Brisset-trained #7 Beau Luminarie (8-1) will be a major factor in the tilt at a nice price. The dark bay son of I Want Revenge has won or placed in 10 straight assignments, and he capped his five-year-old campaign with a strong third in the Tinsel S. while making his local bow.

Beau Luminarie has the best turn of foot in the cast, and since I expect the early tempo to be lively, it will aid his chances of running them down late. Ricardo Santana is in the stirrups.

#3 Warrior’s Charge (7-2), the second millionaire from the Cox shedrow, aired in an allowance tilt on the course to get his six-year-old season started in a big way. The son of Munnings owns four local tallies and could sit a dream trip under Geroux in this spot.

The Florida-bred will track the early tempo from second behind expected pacesetter #1 Thomas Shelby (7-2), which will allow him to get the first run turning for home. He comes in off the short absence with five solid morning drills on the oval.

And I will use the ‘all’ button in the lower rungs of the exotics in this difficult handicapping test.