Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Red Route One got a dream pace setup March 22 in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park, and the 5-year-old Gun Runner horse delivered his customary finishing kick to win going away by 4 1/2 lengths.
The winner, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by his son Keith Asmussen, got an assist from stablemate Unload, ridden by Keith's younger brother Erik. Unload was part of an early three-horse pace duel, helping to set fractions of :22.71, :46.25, and 1:11.67 along with Patriot Spirit and Tarantino.
Edwin Maldonado on the Southern California shipper Tarantino took back as the field hit the backstretch, but nevertheless Red Route One was getting the run of the race while last of six early.
"In the first turn I could see they were kind of, not exactly fighting, but it was somewhat of a bar fight up front, and I'm just sitting behind them with a world of confidence," said the winning rider Keith Asmussen. "I've been getting on (Red Route One) for the duration of his career. And this week I was telling the boss, 'Oh he's breathing fire. He's ready to go.'
"I couldn't be more excited to do it for Winchell and my father."
Red Route One paid $12.40 to win. His final time for 1 1/8 miles on the fast dirt was 1:51.67. Stablemate Unload finished last.
Tarantino re-rallied to finish second, three lengths ahead of third-place Speed Bias. The Essex was the fourth graded win and fifth black-type stakes victory of Red Route One's 25-race career. The win pushed his earnings past the $2 million mark.
