Breeders' Cup Classic: Geaux Rocket Ride back on work tab after spiking fever
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Geaux Rocket Ride, one of the nation’s leading 3-year-olds and a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, worked six furlongs in 1:13.80 on Friday at Santa Anita, his first major exercise in more than two weeks.
Trainer Richard Mandella said Geaux Rocket Ride had an elevated temperature for a brief time earlier this month, which prevented the colt from having a workout last week. Mandella said Geaux Rocket Ride recovered quickly from the illness and is on schedule for the 1 1/4-mile BC Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
However, Mandella cautioned that Geaux Rocket Ride cannot have any further setbacks in the next two weeks.
“I think we’re fine,” he said. “If anything goes south from here, it’s over. So far, he looks good.”
Geaux Rocket Ride has not raced since finishing a game second to BC Classic hopeful Arabian Knight in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Sept. 2 at Del Mar. Owned by Pin Oak Stud, Geaux Rocket Ride earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic with a win in the Grade 1 Haskell for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park in July.
In Friday’s workout, Geaux Rocket Ride was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and worked in company with Salesman, who was third in the Los Alamitos Special Stakes last month.
Geaux Rocket Ride started behind Salesman and caught him in the stretch. Jose Contreras was aboard Salesman.
“He worked fine, but we didn’t want him working too hard,” Mandella said of Geaux Rocket Ride. “Next week, we’ll get a good long work.”
Mandella said that Geaux Rocket Ride was in good condition immediately after Friday’s workout.
“He didn’t cough,” Mandella said.
Mandella described the elevated temperature as “not a big one.”
“His blood was a little off,” Mandella said. “We put him right on antibiotics.”
Geaux Rocket Ride missed the Santa Anita Derby in April because of illness. By Candy Ride, Geaux Rocket Ride has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $980,200.
Salesman was timed in 1:14.60 on Friday.
Mandella said that Salesman will be pointed to the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 5/8 miles on Nov. 4.
Tom Seaver debuts
Tom Seaver, a 2-year-old colt by Sir Prancealot, will have his career debut in a maiden race at six furlongs for California-breds in Sunday’s first race at Santa Anita.
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The maiden race is part of a nine-race program that includes six other races for maidens. Sunday’s program, as well as Oct. 29, are the only two weekend days of the track’s autumn meeting without a stakes race.
Tom Seaver, who races for owner and breeder Nick Alexander and is named for the late Hall of Fame baseball pitcher, is trained by Phil D’Amato. The colt is the first foal to race out of Enola Gray, a five-time stakes winner for Alexander in 2016 and 2017.
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