Giant Expectations invades for Essex Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – There’s speed in the $350,000 Essex Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, but Giant Expectations could prove to be the dominant speed. He invades from Southern California for the 1 1/16-mile race, which shares a program with three other stakes – the Grade 2 Azeri and a pair of $750,000 divisions of the Rebel.

The Essex, which is for 4-year-olds and up, drew a field of nine, including Grade 3 winners Dalmore, Hence, and Rated R Superstar. The group also includes local stakes winner Sonneteer and sharp recent allowance winners Heavy Roller and Snapper Sinclair.

Giant Expectations is the 119-pound highweight as a multiple Grade 2 winner of $1.1 million. He will break from post 8, outside of potential pace rivals Dalmore, who starts from the rail, Chris and Dave, and Snapper Sinclair. Joel Rosario will ride Giant Expectations.

“I think going long, he definitely likes to be forwardly placed – because he can be,” said Peter Eurton, who trains Giant Expectations. “He likes to be up involved.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Giant Expectations, by Frost Giant
Last 3 Beyers: 96-85-96

◗ He comes off a third-place finish in the San Pasqual on Feb. 2 at Santa Anita. Giant Expectations took the field through fractions of 46 seconds for the opening half-mile, 1:09.33 for six furlongs, and 1:33.90 for the mile before finishing behind Grade 1 winners Battle of Midway and McKinzie.

“I thought he ran a great race,” Eurton said. “It was such a game race at a distance – a mile and an eighth – that is a little farther for him. The mile and a sixteenth is right up his alley.”

◗ The San Pasqual was the first race of the year for Giant Expectations, who was coming off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

◗ Eurton said Giant Expectations had been pointing for the Grade 2, $200,000 San Carlos on March 9 at Santa Anita. However, the horse was rerouted to Oaklawn when the March 9 card was among those canceled at Santa Anita.

Sonneteer, by Midnight Lute
Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-88

◗ A closer, he can take advantage if a speed duel erupts in the Essex. Richard Eramia was aboard Sonneter back in 2017 when he ran second in the Rebel at 112-1, and will team with him Saturday. Sonneteer went on to run 16th in the Kentucky Derby under trainer Keith Desormeaux’s brother Kent.

“I’m indebted to Eramia for the rest of my life,” said Keith Desormeaux. “Eramia got this horse in the [Kentucky] Derby.”

◗ Sonneteer comes off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 18 at Oaklawn. He made a strong advance on the second turn then hit traffic at the eighth pole before finishing 3 1/2 lengths behind winner Coal Front.

◗ A Southern California-based runner, Sonneteer has been a regular visitor to Oaklawn since his Rebel. Last year, he captured the track’s $125,000 Fifth Season, and Desormeaux believes the horse is fond of the local surface.

“It’s a little bit deeper and sandy, and the difference in texture might be to his liking,” he said.

◗ Sonneteer is an earner of more than $500,000, all for breeder and owner Calumet Farm.