Geaux Rocket Ride, after Haskell victory, probable for Pacific Classic
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DEL MAR, Calif. - Geaux Rocket Ride is likely to start against older horses for the first time in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 2 after winning his Grade 1 debut in Saturday’s $1,017,500 Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
The $1 million Pacific Classic is run at 1 1/4 miles and would be Geaux Rocket Ride’s first start at the distance. The Haskell is run at 1 1/8 miles.
“I think he might like it,” Mandella said on Sunday of the Pacific Classic. “It’s a thought.”
The Pacific Classic is Del Mar’s leading annual race for older horses. In its 32-year history, 16 3-year-olds have run in the race. There have been five 3-year-old winners – Best Pal (1991), General Challenge (1999), Came Home (2002), Dullahan (2012) and Shared Belief (2014).
Mandella has won the race four times, most recently with the brilliant mare Beholder in 2015.
A start in the Pacific Classic would help determine autumn plans for Geaux Rocket Ride. The win in the Haskell Invitational gave Geaux Rocket Ride a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
On Sunday, Mandella reiterated his plan to pass on the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 26 with Geaux Rocket Ride. He cited a second flight across the country and Saratoga’s surface as two reasons.
“I think it would be too much,” Mandella said. “It’s different. It’s pretty sandy.”
Geaux Rocket Ride, who races for Jim and Dana Bernhard’s Pin Oak Stud, won his second consecutive stakes in the Haskell Invitational, one of the nation’s leading races for 3-year-olds in the second half of the year.
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Geaux Rocket Ride closed from third to reach contention on the turn with a three-wide move. Geaux Rocket Ride fought off a threat from Kentucky Derby winner Mage to beat that rival by 1 3/4 lengths.
Geaux Rocket Ride ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.52 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100.
“He’s a real fighter,” Mandella said. “He’s such a class act and has a great mind. He’s got ability and he enjoys a fight.”
Geaux Rocket Ride has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $780,200. Purchased for $350,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky, Geaux Rocket Ride won his debut at Santa Anita on Jan. 29, and was second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles there on March 5.
By Candy Ride, Geaux Rocket Ride was entered in the Santa Anita Derby in April, but was withdrawn on race morning because of illness. The setback prevented a start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.
Geaux Rocket Ride won his comeback in the Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on June 4, which Mandella used as a prep for the Haskell Invitational.
Geaux Rocket Ride was the 12-1 sixth choice in a field of eight in the Haskell. Mage (4-1) finished two lengths clear of 11-10 favorite Arabian Knight, who had not started since a win in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in January.
Arabian Knight, trained by Bob Baffert, and Geaux Rocket Ride are scheduled to return to California on Tuesday. Baffert said on Sunday that Arabian Knight will be considered for the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 23.
-additional reporting by Brad Free
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