Fan favorite Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), a 13-time winner of over $1.8 million in a career that spanned nine seasons at the racetrack, has been retired and will take up residence at Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, according to a series of tweets from Allison Caldwell, the wife of trainer Danny Caldwell.
Rated R Superstar began his career in the barn of Ken McPeek and was third to Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) in the 2015 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity before finishing unplaced behind Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Winner of the GIII Carry Back S. in 2016, he added the GIII Ben Ali S. as a 5-year-old in 2018 and was claimed by Cipriano Contreras for $62,500 late that year. Winner of the 2019 Essex H., Rated R Superstar was haltered by Caldwell for $50,000 in January 2021 and posted his richest career victory in the 2022 GIII Essex H. A two-time winner of the Governor's Cup at Remington Park in 2021 and 2022, he was being aimed for a third try at that event, but Allison Caldwell tweeted that medication constructs dictated that he be retired “sound, healthy and happy.”
“Today is a bittersweet one, as @IloveFastHorses (Danny Caldwell) and I announce Rated R superstar's retirement to Old Friends,” Allison Caldwell said in the first of a three-tweet thread. “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.
“As rule changes for Lasix this year, we feel an absence of therapeutic medication is not in the best interest for optimal health & performance. We're not in the habit of changing the things that are working for rules that do not benefit the health of our horses as individual.
“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!”
In reply, Old Friends tweeted: “Allison, we are thrilled at the prospect of Rated R Superstar retiring to Old Friends. Thank you for trusting us with your boy!”
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