Esa demonstrated a top performance in the $17,000 Open Handicap at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Sunday afternoon (May 21).
Hanners and Esa rocketed out of the gate from post four in their field of seven. The pair were the first to the top and never looked back, posting fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:25.4. Down the stretch, Pay Me To Knight flew up the passing lane in an attempt to catch the leader, but Esa accelerated. The seven-year-old son of E L Titan won by two lengths in 1:55.1. Pay Me To Knight was second and Gigfy finished third.
John Hallett trains Esa, who collected his 24th win and now owns a 7-3-1 card in 19 starts this season. Owned by Hallett and Ronald Prohm, Esa is just $277 shy of $300,000 in career earnings.
Also on the matinee card, Larry Stalbaum posted a training triple with Inquiring Mind, Malibu Kid and Doo Wop Kid.
Racing at Saratoga Casino Hotel continues Monday, May 22 with a first race post time of 12 p.m. (EDT).
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)