Forli Light Wins Essex

Forli Light proved he was more than a sprinter when he scored a front-running three-length victory over Momsfurrari in the $61,550 Essex Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Forli Light, owned by David Beard and trained by Larry Robideaux, won a stakes race by 3 1/4 lengths at Oaklawn two weeks ago in 1:09 1/5, the fastest six furlongs of the meeting. On Saturday, Forli Light covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 4/5, also the fastest time for that distance at the meeting.

Forli Light, the slight favorite in the field of nine older horses, returned $6.20, $4.40 and $3.20.