With win, Willy’s a rich guy

Win Willy, shown with jockey Cliff Berry after winning the 2011 Fifth Season Stakes, can push his career earnings past $1 million with a victory in today’s Essex Handicap.

Win Willy, shown with jockey Cliff Berry after winning the 2011 Fifth Season Stakes, can push his career earnings past $1 million with a victory in today’s Essex Handicap.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

— Win Willy’s third chance to become a millionaire comes in the $100,000 Essex Handicap for older horses today at Oaklawn Park.

One of the most popular horses on the grounds, Win Willy has earned $967,887 off 10 victories from 28 lifetime starts.

A victory in the Essex would be worth $60,000 and push him over $1 million.

Win Willy had a chance to reach $1 million in the $100,000 Swatara Stakes on Nov. 21 at Penn National in Pennsylvania, but finished fourth and last.

Win Willy was denied again with a third-place finish in the $75,000 Fifth Season Stakes on Jan. 11 at Oaklawn.

The Essex, at 1 1/16 miles, is also a chance for Win Willy to turn the tables on San Pablo, a wire-to-wire winner of the Swatara, and Donoharm and Skyring, the 1-2 finishers, respectively, in the Fifth Season.

Win Willy made his 7-yearold debut in the Fifth Season.

“My horse needed a race,” said Mac Robertson, trainer of Win Willy. “I think we can beat them. I think we can get by them.”

San Pablo is the 4-5 program favorite for the Essex, which drew five entrants.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, San Pablo has won 9 of 15 career starts, including six stakes races.

San Pablo normally races on or near the lead.

Win Willy, 7-2 in the program, will be ridden for the first time today by Seth Martinez, who has been Robertson’s go-to rider recently at Oaklawn.

Robertson said Martinez has worked Win Willy in the past and is a good fit for the late-running horse.

“I like him,” Robertson said of Win Willy. “If they go :51 for the half, I guess I won’t. I would think maybe another horse or two, if they’re being ridden to win, will lean on San Pablo, I hope.”

Win Willy scored his biggest career victory in the $350,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap in 2011.

Probable post time for the Essex, the eighth of nine live races, is 4:38 p.m.

Racing begins today at 1 p.m.

Sports, Pages 21 on 02/02/2013