Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is pleased to announce that multiple stakes-winning millionaire Rated R Superstar arrived at the farm on Wednesday evening, June 28, 2023, for his retirement thanks to his owner, Danny Caldwell.
The chestnut gelding, who was sired by Kodiak Kowboy, out of the Gold Case mare, Wicked Wish, won nine stakes races, three of them graded stakes, during his nine-year career where he became a fan-favorite the older he got every time he ran.
Bred and initially raced by Thorndale Stable LLC, Rated R Superstar was foaled in Kentucky on April 20, 2013.
Originally trained by Ken McPeek, Rated R Superstar began his racing career as a two-year old in 2015 and broke his maiden his second time out in a maiden claiming race at Ellis Park. That year, he also finished 11th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland.
He won his first graded-stakes race in 2016 when he captured the Carry Back Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. In addition, he won the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) in 2018 at Keeneland, and the Essex Handicap (Listed) in 2019 at Oaklawn Park.
Following a win in a waiver claiming race in Jan. 2021, Caldwell claimed him for $50,000 and Rated R Superstar went on to win six more races, five of them stakes races, for his new owner and new trainer Federico Villafranco: an allowance optional claiming race at Prairie Meadows in 2021; the Governor's Cup Stakes (Listed) at Remington Park in 2021 and 2022; the Fifth Season Stakes (Listed), and his second Essex Handicap (G3), both at Oaklawn Park, in 2022; and the Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial Stakes (Black Type) at Remington Park in 2022.
The hard working Rated R Superstar returned to the track in 2023 as a 10-year old and raced five times, all at Oaklawn Park. His best finish was a third in the Fifth Season Stakes (Listed).
Then, following a fifth in an allowance optional claiming race on May 6 for trainer Martin Villafranco, Caldwell retired his horse with 13 wins, 10 seconds, 9 thirds, and $1,847,397 earnings in 70 career starts.
After that race, Caldwell also announced that Rated R Superstar would be going to Old Friends for his retirement.
“Today is a bittersweet one, as @ILoveFastHorses (Danny Caldwell's Twitter account) and I announce Rated R superstar's retirement to Old Friends,” tweeted Caldwell's wife, Allison, on her Twitter account, @missfasthorses. “Owning Rated R has been one of the greatest gifts in our racing careers. He's a member of the family and we've always done things his way, in his best interest.
“Rated R' is retiring sound, happy and healthy,” she added. “We are very excited about this next chapter and we ask that if you're in the area of Old Friends, please schedule a time to visit or make a donation on his behalf. He's a very social guy and he loves seeing his friends!”
Added Michal Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends, “Some Thoroughbred fans dream of winning the Kentucky Derby, but for the past few years I dreamt about retiring the Great War horse Rated R Superstar. Some dreams come true.”
The post Old Friends Welcomes Retired Millionaire Rated R Superstar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
