At the age of 9, R Superstar Rated have a lot of racing experience.
In particular, he has given his relationships some very fond memories of the Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park. In 2019, Kodiak Kowboy gelding won Essex, back in the days when it was a $350,000 listed stock. Last year, he fell back before winning Silver status — who then won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) —in the $500,000 version of the listed stakes.
Essex 2022 was elevated to tier 3 with another $500,000 for the March 19 edition of the 1/16-mile stake and, fittingly, on his third attempt, R-Rated Superstar has gone back in time to service one more pound effort in Essex.
Rallying four wide in the final turn, brave gelding overcame the second pick 9-5 Plainsman in the extended final to claim a 2 1/4 length win at the hands of jockey David Cabrera and give owner Danny Caldwell his first ranking win.
“I knew we were going to have a chance to get to the next round. I could see him coming,” Caldwell said.
Danny Caldwell at Oaklawn Park
Turns out, R-Rated Superstar ($18.60) had a bigger hit than his 8-1 odds were reflected.
Coming back from fifth place in the Razorback race behind Plainsman, the R-Rated Superstar returns to the shape of his previous race, as he opens 2022 with a victory in the Sixth Season Bets for Training member Federico Villafranco.
Essex marks the production Gold shell mare Evil Wish Started the 59th, with 21 of them coming on dirt roads at Oaklawn, and five of those performances resulted in trips to the winners’ circle.
Under the same scenario as 2019 and 2021, R-Rated Superstar is likely to return on April 23 with a $1 million Oaklawn bet, although his ties would love to write a page. new in the history of the 9-year-old boy with that abundant stake. After strong efforts at Essex, he couldn’t have done better than finishing eighth in last year’s Oaklawn Handicap and sixth in the 2019 edition.
“I think he deserves a shot,” Caldwell said of the Oaklawn Handicap. “He’s great. He’s a blessing for our barn. He likes to run so we’ll give him a shot.”
Caldwell and Villafranco claimed an R Superstar Review for $50,000 early before Essex 2021 and have been awarded approximately $700,000 out of gelding career earnings of $1.5 million. Bred by Thorndale Stable, he is the only classified bet winner from the 11 ponies in the Evil Wish who have a desire Bolt d’Oro pony.
Essex also marked another solid performance from runner-up Plainsman, who took a mid-range lead but couldn’t fend off a R-Rated Superstar late kick. The winner jumped from Friday to cross and crossed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.12 while carrying 118 pounds. Six out of seven people who start in the field weigh between 118-119 pounds.
Plainsman, 7 of Shortleaf Stable, 122-pound weight class trained by Brad Cox, finished second after squeezing his initial pace. Thomas Shelby over half a mile in: 47.18.
Linda Pavey’s Beau Luminarie one I want to revenge gelding was trained by Rodolphe Brisset, finishing from last in field seven to take third place.
Favorite 3-2 Warrior’s Charge One Munnings The 6-year-old was also coached by Cox, racing in third place in the backseat but finishing fifth.
R-rated Superstar connections enjoy title presentation for Essex Handicap
Videotapes: Essex H. (G3)
