First Look: Last Samurai, ageless Rated R Superstar meet again

For the first time since mid-January, no points preps for Kentucky Derby 2023 are on the weekend calendar. It’s a bit of a breather before seven U.S. races offer 100 points to the winner in the following three weeks.

But there are other races worth your attention, including an expected rematch of Last Samurai and Rated R Superstar in the Grade 3 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn.

Here’s an early look at the likely fields in weekend stakes of interest.

Saturday

Essex Handicap (G3), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

The Oaklawn racing office listed only two probables, Razorback (G3) winner Last Samurai and Rated R Superstar, who was fourth in the Feb. 18 race and won it last year. It was Last Samurai’s first win in eight starts since his April 23 score in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2). Rated R Superstar, now 10, won a black-type stakes at Remington Park in December then finished third in the Fifth Season at Oaklawn. Caddo River had been possible here, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas plans to run him instead in the Oaklawn Mile (G3).

Whitmore (G3), Oaklawn, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Cogburn returned to Oaklawn after his second-place finish in the Chick Lang (G3) and won an allowance by a neck as the odds-on favorite. Tejano Twist was second in the King Cotton but had won third in a row before that. Flash of Mischief was ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint but returned to win a black-type stakes before a fifth-place finish in the King Cotton.

Hutcheson (listed), Gulfstream Park, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Super Chow had won four straight, all at six furlongs, before he finished second in the Swale (G3) as the odds-on favorite. Two of a Kind was third in the Swale in his second loss after a six-month layoff. In his only start, Youbetterbejoking won a maiden special weight by 3 1/4 lengths over the favorite in November.

Silks Run (listed), Gulfstream Park, 5 furlongs (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Carotari won this race in 2020 and 2021 but didn’t appear here last year. He was second by a half-length last out in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3) to Yes I Am Free, also entered here and 2-for-2 this year. Big Invasion won six in a row last year before finishing third in the Franklin-Simpson (G2) in September, his most recent start.

Cicada (listed), Aqueduct, 6 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies

Downtown Mischief is 2-for-2 on her career, breaking her maiden in January and then winning an allowance race in February. Also for Linda Rice, Fancy Azteca is 2-for-2 this year, winning an optional-claiming starter race last out after breaking her maiden in January on second try. Parody came back from a fourth-place finish in the Santa Ynez (G3) to win an allowance at Oaklawn.

China Doll (listed), Santa Anita, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Ag Bullet held on in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes last out to finish a neck ahead of The Wild Grazer, also expected here along with three others from that Feb. 12 race. Comanche Country would make her first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Before that, she won three straight, including the Surfer Girl (G3).

Sunday

Damon Runyon (listed), Aqueduct, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds, New York-breds

After picking up 7 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby in three races at Aqueduct, Andiamo a Firenze appears to be heading in a different direction, cutting back to six furlongs. His last win was in August at 6 1/2 furlongs in the Funny Cide at Saratoga. Bobby Ride is coming off a seven-length maiden win at Finger Lakes.