9-Year-Old Rated R Superstar Catches Rivals in Essex

At the age of 9, Rated R Superstar  has a wealth of racetrack experience.

In particular, he's given his connections some very fond memories of the Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park. In 2019, the Kodiak Kowboy  gelding won the Essex, back in the days when it was a $350,000 listed stakes. Last year, he fell a neck shy of the victorious Silver State  —who later won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1)—in a $500,000 edition of the listed stakes.

The 2022 Essex was elevated to grade 3 status with another $500,000 purse for the March 19 edition of the 1 1/16-mile stakes and, fittingly, in his third try in it, Rated R Superstar went back in time to serve up yet another sterling effort in the Essex.

Rallying four-wide on the final turn, the gallant gelding rallied past 9-5 second choice Plainsman   in the final furlong to notch a 2 1/4-length victory under jockey David Cabrera and give owner Danny Caldwell his first graded stakes win.

"I knew coming into the stretch that we had a chance. I could see him coming," Caldwell said "He was doing great, feeling good coming into the race, so I knew we had a shot."

As it turned out, Rated R Superstar ($18.60) had a bigger shot than his 8-1 odds reflected.

Rebounding from a fifth in the Razorback behind Plainsman, Rated R Superstar returned to the form of his prior race, when he opened 2022 with a victory in the Sixth Season Stakes for trainer Federico Villafranco.

The Essex marked the produce of the Gold Case  mare Wicked Wish 's 59th start, with 21 of them coming on dirt at Oaklawn and five of those performances resulting in trips to the winner's circle.

Following the same script as 2019 and 2021, Rated R Superstar will likely return April 23 for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap, though his connections would love to script a new page in the 9-year-old's history in that rich stakes. After strong efforts in the Essex, he could do no better than finish eighth in last year's Oaklawn Handicap and sixth in the 2019 edition.

"I think he deserves a shot," Caldwell said about the Oaklawn Handicap. "He's been great. He's been a blessing to our stable. He loves to run so we'll give him a shot."

Caldwell and Villafranco claimed Rated R Superstar for $50,000 in the start before the 2021 Essex and have been rewarded with about $700,000 of the gelding's career earnings of $1.5 million. Bred by Thorndale Stable, he is the lone graded stakes winner from 11 foals out of Wicked Wish, who has a yearling Bolt d'Oro   colt.

The Essex also marked another solid performance by the runner-up Plainsman, who led in midstretch but could not fend off Rated R Superstar's late kick. The winner rallied from sixth to pull clear and cover the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.12 while carrying 118 pounds. Six of the seven starters in the field toted between 118-119 pounds.

Shortleaf Stable's 7-year-old Plainsman, the 122-pound highweight trained by Brad Cox, ran second after pressing the early pace of Thomas Shelby  through a half-mile in :47.18.

Linda Pavey's Beau Luminarie , an I Want Revenge  gelding trained by Rodolphe Brisset, closed from last in the field of seven to grab third.

The 3-2 favorite Warrior's Charge , a Munnings   6-year-old also trained by Cox, raced in third on the backstretch but faded to fifth.

Video: Essex H. (G3)