Rated R Superstar Back to Defend Fifth Season Title

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Rated R Superstar Back to Defend Fifth Season Title
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Photo: Coady Photography
Rated R Superstar wins the 2022 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Rated R Superstar  returns to Oaklawn Park ready to defend his title in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 14. The mile dirt race is for 4-year-olds and up.

The 9-year-old veteran of 65 races will be less than a month removed from a victory last time out in the Jeffery A. Hawk Memorial Stakes at Remington Park. The son of Kodiak Kowboy  will be ridden by Isaac Castillo, who was aboard the gelding in the Hawk Memorial.

Despite his success at Oaklawn (5-5-1 in 27 starts), the Martin Villafranco-trained Rated R Superstar (4-1) isn't the favorite. That distinction belongs to Ginobili  at 7-5.

The 6-year-old Munnings   gelding missed nearly a year before returning Nov. 11 in an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar in which he lost by a head. Prior to his absence, Ginobili was a scratch in the 2022 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3). He ran sixth in the 2021 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) and second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). 

"He ran great off the layoff and he's trained super since," trainer Peter Miller said. "His work on Saturday was about as good as a horse has worked for me—1:11 and galloped out (7 furlongs) in 1:23 and change."

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Since that scratch in Saudi Arabia, there has been a change in his connections. Trainer Richard Baltas is no longer included in the ownership group that includes Slam Dunk Racing, Jerry McClanahan, and Michael Nentwig. Stepping into the trainer role is Peter Miller. 

The rest of the field includes Soy Tapatio  (9-1), Runnin' Ray  (8-1), King Fury  (10-1), Heart Rhythm  (12-1), Hello Hot Rod  (12-1), Dreamer's Disease  (10-1), Seize the Night  (20-1), and Silver Prospector  (20-1).




Entries: Fifth Season S.

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, January 14, 2023, Race 9

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Dirt
  • $150,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 4:22 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Soy Tapatio (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Cristian A. Torres 122 Robertino Diodoro 9/2
2 2Runnin' Ray (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Martin Garcia 122 Joe Sharp 8/1
3 3Heart Rhythm (KY) Rafael Bejarano 122 John Alexander Ortiz 12/1
4 4Hello Hot Rod (MD) Nik Juarez 115 Shawn H. Davis 12/1
5 5Dreamer's Disease (KY) Casey Fusilier 122 Ricky Courville 20/1
6 6Rated R Superstar (KY) Isaac Castillo 122 Martin Villafranco 4/1
7 7Seize the Night (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mickaelle Michel 122 D. Wayne Lukas 20/1
8 8Ginobili (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Ricardo Santana, Jr. 115 Peter Miller 7/5
9 9King Fury (KY) David Cabrera 115 Kenneth G. McPeek 10/1
10 10Silver Prospector (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Francisco Arrieta 122 Steven M. Asmussen 20/1