Rated R Superstar Steals the Show in Essex
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Photo: Coady Photography
Rated R Superstar wins the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park
Crystal Racing Enterprises and Contreras Stable's Rated R Superstar returned to the winner's circle March 16, snapping an eight-race losing streak in the $350,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
Dalmore took the lead on the rail in the 1 1/16-mile dirt test, showing the field through fractions of :23.27 and :47.33 for the half-mile. To his direct outside, Nanoosh pressed the pace until Dalmore faded on the far turn and dropped back to sixth.
Nanoosh was in control when they reached the six-furlong point in 1:11.82, but his lead was short-lived as Rated R Superstar rallied four wide and made his bid for the lead.
At the top of the stretch, the 6-year-old gelding got a head in front of 8-5 favorite Giant Expectations and held on through the final strides to win by the same margin over Snapper Sinclair.
Final time for the race was 1:42.66 over a track rated fast. Giant Expectations was third, three-quarters of a length behind Snapper Sinclair. At odds of 14-1, Rated R Superstar returned $31.20, $10.80, and $5.20.
"Gets away a little bad," said Peter Eurton, who trains Giant Expectations. "I don't know if it cost him too much. Went a little wide. Getting over this track, they say it's a funny track if you're not training on it a little, too."
The win was the first for Rated R Superstar since he took the April 14 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, then conditioned by Ken McPeek. Trainer Cipriano Contreras claimed the son of Kodiak Kowboy for $62,500 Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs. He finished third last out in the Feb. 18 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn.
"He's just a good old horse," said Contreras, who indicated the gelding will likely be pointed toward the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 13. "He made half a million dollars before I got him. You don't make half a million dollars by being a (loser). … He still has something left in the tank. Hopefully, a little better than this."
Bred in Kentucky by Thorndale Stable, Rated R Superstar is out of the winning Gold Case mare Wicked Wish, who was bred to Flintshire for 2019. He improved his record to 6-5-6 from 33 starts, with $780,767 in earnings.