Tag: Racing

He's trying to become the Perfect 10.

Millionaire Rated R Superstar is scheduled to make his 10-year-old debut in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn for four-time local leading owner Danny Caldwell and trainer Martin Villafranco.

A repeat victory in the 1-mile Fifth Season would make Rated R Superstar the oldest horse in Oaklawn history to win a two-turn stakes race. He would also join Leading Article as the only 10-year-old to capture a black-type event in Hot Springs. Leading Article is the oldest horse in Oaklawn history to win a stakes race, claiming the $1,000 KTHS Handicap as a 10-year-old March 29, 1941. The 6-furlong race was run on the Arkansas Derby undercard and reportedly featured Kentucky Derby nominees.

Rated R Superstar is coming off a career year, bankrolling $600,266 in nine starts. The late-running chestnut gelding won four races – all stakes – including the $150,000 Fifth Season and Oaklawn's $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles and the $100,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial at 1 mile and 70 yards Dec. 17 at Remington Park in his last start.

“Unbelievable,” Caldwell said Thursday afternoon. “He's an unbelievable horse, maybe a once in a lifetime horse for one that old. Hope he continues to run at the level he's racing at. I had Fifth Date. He made over $100,000 his 10-year-old year, but he didn't run in the kind of races Rated R has been running in as a 9-year-old.”

Caldwell claimed Rated R Superstar for $50,000 out of a Jan. 30, 2021, victory at Oaklawn. Caldwell, who didn't have to shake for the gelding, struck gold with his investment. In 17 starts for the Oklahoma owner, Rated R Superstar has six victories, including five stakes, and earnings of $899,257. A victory Saturday would nudge Rated R Superstar's career earnings to almost $1.9 million. He'll be running, again, against horses half his age.

“Any time they go out there, you get a little nervous,” Caldwell said. “But I think he'll take care of himself because he's smart. Really the reason he's been sound, I guess, all these years is because he took care of himself. He runs hard the last half a mile, really, and kind of just gallops around the track and kicks it down the lane.”

Rated R Superstar is the 4-1 second choice in the program for the Fifth Season. The 7-5 favorite is Grade 2 winner Ginobili, a 6-year-old gelding for Southern California-based trainer Peter Miller.

Caldwell said Rated R Superstar is in good form coming into the Fifth Season after winning two of his last three starts and posting a half-mile work in :48.80 Jan. 5 at Oaklawn. But as always, Caldwell noted, Rated R Superstar is pace dependent.

“Everything's got to fall into place to win a horse race to begin with,” Caldwell said. “And with this horse, it's a little more. You've got to have a good pace for him to run at. You've got to have a fair playing track. A speed-favoring track, he's not going to have a shot to run down those speed horses. It's not going to happen. Hopefully, we get a fair track. I think we're going to get enough speed in the race. The way I handicapped it, there's definitely some speed in the race. The other factor is him feeling good and he's doing that, for sure. He's acting like he's ready to run.”

Since being claimed by Caldwell, Rated R Superstar has spent most of his time with trainer Federico Villafranco, Martin Villafranco's father. The trainers have switched venues this year, with Federico overseeing Caldwell's 16-horse string at Sam Houston Race Park and Martin handling the owner's Oaklawn contingent, roughly 35. Martin Villafranco started his first horse in 2021 and saddled his first winner last year.

“We were finishing up over at Remington and it overlapped with Oaklawn, so I needed to get horses to Oaklawn early and Martin was available,” Caldwell said. “So, I just sent Freddy to Houston. He won a race for me there this weekend. As far as the credit for this horse (Rated R Superstar), Freddy's done a great job with him. Martin, he'll tell you himself that his dad's the one that's had all the success and done a great job with him. He's just proud be around a horse like him. The credit goes to Freddy.”

A Kentucky-bred son of sprint champion Kodiak Kowboy, Rated R Superstar has a 13-10-8 record from 65 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,781,280. He is an eight-time stakes winner.

Oaklawn allows 10-year-olds to race with approval of racing secretary Pat Pope and its board of stewards.

The post ‘Acting Like He’s Ready To Run’: Rated R Superstar Will Make 10-Year-Old Debut In Fifth Season Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Turf specialist Kitodan, who went from being claimed twice last year to winning Kentucky Downs' Grade 3, $750,000 Big Ass Fans Dueling Grounds Derby, has been selected the National HBPA's 2022 Claiming Horse of the Year.

“We are blessed that we were able to claim that kind of horse compared to where we were just a few years ago,” said western Kentucky-based trainer Eric Foster, whose wife Brooklyn's Foster Family Racing and partners Doug Miller and Bill Wargel campaign the now 4-year-old colt after claiming him for $80,000 in May. “We're really happy and humble to own him and thank the National HBPA for having this award. Winning Claiming Horse of the Year came out of the blue, but we are honored and so proud of Kitodan. People like us, we can't go to the Keeneland sale, pick the ones we want and hold our hand up until we come home with them.”

Kitodan will be honored at the awards luncheon Tuesday, March 7, as part of the annual National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Conference March 6-10 at the historic Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans' French Quarter.

“Kitodan exemplifies what we look for in the National HBPA Claiming Horse of the Year,” said Todd Mostoller, chair of the National HBPA's awards committee. “He ran at five different tracks on grass, synthetic, and dirt and showed that it's better for a racehorse to have a big heart than a big price tag while going from three claiming races to graded-stakes winner. We love these stories. It gives hope to horsemen everywhere that you don't have to buy six- and seven-figure babies to come up with a good horse.”

Kitodan, a $9,000 yearling purchase, made money for his three sets of owners as a 3-year-old. After running in stakes at age 2 for Joker Racing, Kitodan was claimed in his first start of 2022 for $35,000 by trainer Mike Maker on behalf of owners Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher, who campaigned 2021 Claiming Horse of the Year Special Reserve. Kitodan promptly won another optional allowance race at Churchill Downs while again in for the $35,000 claiming price before taking Turfway Park's $200,000 Rushaway Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths.

When Maker subsequently ran Kitodan for the $80,000 price tag in an optional claiming race at Churchill Downs, Foster was the only one to put in a claim.

The partners recovered their investment just three weeks later when Kitodan won Churchill's $200,000 Audubon Stakes at 40-1 odds. That was followed by a respectable fourth in Churchill Downs' American Derby, taken off the turf, and a close fifth against older horses in Ellis Park's $100,000 Henderson Turf Mile. A son of five-time Grade 1 winner Point of Entry, Kitodan clearly appreciated the stretch-out to the Dueling Grounds Derby's 1 5/16 miles, winning by four lengths at 20-1 odds under Gerardo Corrales.

“It's one of those things you only dream about in racing to come up with a horse like this,” said Miller, of Junction, Ill. “If we were trying to do this individually, we wouldn't even have thought about it. Partnering gave us the opportunity.”

It was the first graded-stakes victory for the owners and by far the biggest purse.

“There are a lot of people who have a lot more money and investment in the horses and never get this kind of horse,” said Wargel, of Ridgway, Ill., 50 miles from Kentucky's Ellis Park. “We're just old farm boys, me and Doug. Whether we never have another one or that horse never wins another race, he made a dream come true for us.”

Foster said that Kitodan winning Claiming Horse of the Year is a team award that includes his partners who made it possible, along with the trainer's staff and family, who help with the stable.

“We would never want to accept an award like this without thanking Juan Medina,” Foster said of his assistant trainer. “He not only takes care of Kitodan but is also his regular exercise rider. We also very appreciative to Geraldo Corrales and his agent Cliff Collier.”

Kitodan is getting time off at Foster's farm in Utica, Ky., near Owensboro, with a major goal being Kentucky Downs' $1 million, Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup in September and hopefully a trip to Santa Anita for the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, a race he missed last year with a minor leg issue.

“He's probably put on 100, 150 pounds. The time off has really done him some good,” Foster said. “We're hoping to start back with him at the end of February. We'd love to get back to Kentucky Downs.”

The post ‘One Of Those Things You Only Dream About’: Kitodan Named National HBPA’s 2022 Claiming Horse Of The Year appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Program favorite Ginobili and 2022 winner Rated R Superstar are among 10 older horses entered in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at 1 mile Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

The Fifth Season goes as the ninth of 10 races, with probable post time 4:22 p.m. (Central). First post is 12:30 p.m.

The projected Fifth Season field from the rail out:

1. Soy Tapatio, Cristian Torres to ride, 122 pounds, 9-2 on the morning line;
2. Runnin' Ray, Martin Garcia, 122, 8-1;
3. Heart Rhythm, Rafael Bejarano, 122, 12-1;
4. Hello Hot Rod, Nik Juarez, 115, 12-1;
5. Dreamer's Disease, Casey Fusilier, 122, 20-1;
6. Rated R Superstar, Isaac Castillo, 122, 4-1;
7. Seize the Night, Mickaelle Michel, 122, 20-1;
8. Ginobili, Ricardo Santana Jr., 115, 7-5;
9. King Fury, David Cabrera, 115, 10-1; and
10. Silver Prospector, Francisco Arrieta, 122, 20-1.

The Southern California-based Ginobili raced twice at the 2020 Oaklawn meeting and recorded his biggest career victory to date in the $200,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at 7 furlongs in August 2021 at Del Mar. Ginobili was then trained by Richard Baltas, but is now under the care of trainer Peter Miller. In his first start for Miller, Ginobili finished second, beaten a head by stablemate Get Her Number, in a Nov. 20 allowance sprint at Del Mar. It marked Ginobili's first race in almost a year following a physical setback, Miller said.

Before shipping to Oaklawn, Ginobili tuned up for the Fifth Season with a swift six-furlong work (1:11) Jan. 7 at San Luis Rey Training Center in Southern California.

“He ran great off the layoff and he's trained super since,” 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.”

After winning the Pat O'Brien, Ginobili concluded his 2021 campaign with a runner-up finish in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar and a sixth-place finish in the $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct. Ginobili moves back to two turns after a narrow loss to Get Her Number, a Grade 1 winner and second in the 2022 Cigar Mile.

“We had an allowance race that we were looking at out here, but it didn't go,” said Miller, who has around eight horses at Oaklawn. “We pivoted to this a couple of weeks ago.”

Millionaire Rated R Superstar will be making his 10-year-old debut for four-time Oaklawn leading owner Danny Caldwell. A late-running son of Kodiak Kowboy, Rated R Superstar bankrolled $600,266 last year after winning 4 of 9 starts. Rated R Superstar opened 2022 with a victory in the Fifth Season and won Oaklawn's $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles in March. He exits a victory in the $100,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial Stakes at 1 mile and 70 yards Dec. 17 at Remington Park.

Oaklawn leading trainer Robertino Diodoro bids for his fourth stakes victory of the meeting with Soy Tapatio, who has flourished since being privately purchased last summer. Soy Tapatio has three stakes victories for his new connections, including the $100,000 Zia Park Championship Nov. 22 at Zia Park in his last start. Soy Tapatio set Zia Park's 1 1/8-mile track record (1:47.18) in the one-length victory.

“He's done well for us,” Diodoro said. “He's a nice little horse.”

Millionaire Silver Prospector won the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles in 2020 at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Asmussen is seeking his record-extending 98th career Oaklawn stakes victory.

Heart Rhythm, who is trained by John Ortiz, will be racing around two turns for the first time since April 2021. After being claimed for $100,000 Sept. 15 at Churchill Downs, Heart Rhythm won an Oct. 19 allowance race at Keeneland and finished second and third in two sprint stakes at Fair Grounds. Heart Rhythm, racing without blinkers, exits a third in the $100,000 Richard B. Scherer Memorial Stakes at 6 furlongs Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds.

“Heart Rhythm's doing fantastic,” Ortiz said. “This horse is always asking for more distance. From the very beginning, we thought that this horse needed a little bit of distance. The gallop out, that last race, it was incredible. If you actually watched the gallop out, he opened up on that field. Just gives me more encouragement to stretch him out.”

Runnin' Ray finished third in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses last April at Oaklawn for trainer Joe Sharp. King Fury cuts back to a mile after finishing fifth in the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 17 at Oaklawn for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Silver Prospector and King Fury add blinkers for the Fifth Season.

The post Fifth Season: Ginobili Ships In For Second Start Off Year Layoff, Faces Nine Rivals Including Millionaire Rated R Superstar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A trio of stakes races comprise Saturday's annual Skyway Festival Day card at Tampa Bay Downs, with 3-year-olds of both sexes attempting to prove their mettle in a pair of $125,000, seven-furlong contests on the main track.

There are 10 races scheduled, with post time for the first race at 12:32 p.m.

The $125,000 Pasco Stakes, for 3-year-old males, is the sixth race on the card. Six horses are entered, with trainer Mark Casse's one-two punch of Grade 3 stakes winner Champions Dream and Ontario-bred stakes winner Armstrong expected to be formidable.

Also dangerous is trainer Gerald Bennett's gelding Handsome Playboy, who was second here on Dec. 3 in the Inaugural Stakes.

The $125,000 Gasparilla, for 3-year-old fillies, is slated as the ninth race and brings together eight horses. The field includes the 1-2 finishers in the Dec. 3 Sandpiper Stakes, trainer Michael Yates's Dorth Vader and conditioner Robert G. Smith's Awesome Pic.

Older fillies and mares get their moment in the spotlight in the seventh race, the $50,000, mile-and-a-sixteenth Wayward Lass Stakes on the main track. There are seven horses entered, with trainer George Weaver's 5-year-old mare Pass the Champagne and Bennett's 5-year-old Tap Dance Fever both appearing capable of grabbing the top prize.

Friday's card consists of nine races beginning at 12:32 p.m. Thoroughbred racing will also be conducted Sunday, as Tampa Bay Downs approaches the one-third point of the meet.

The track is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits poker action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

The post Sophomores In Spotlight At Tampa With Two Seven-Furlong Stakes On Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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