Geaux Rocket Ride going straight to San Felipe
Geaux Rocket Ride, the easy winner of a maiden race at Santa Anita on Jan. 29 in his debut, will have his second start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 4, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby.
The $400,000 San Felipe Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles and is a stepping-stone to the Grade1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 8.
Trained by Richard Mandella for Pin Oak Stud, Geaux Rocket Ride led throughout his maiden race win at six furlongs, pulling clear in the final furlong to win by 5 3/4 lengths under jockey Flavien Prat. Geaux Rocket Ride was timed in a sharp 1:09.52 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
“Flavien got off and said he wants to go farther,” Mandella said on Friday. “I found something farther.”
Geaux Rocket Ride recorded quick workouts at times in advance of his debut, but was not fully extended in training before his first race, Mandella said.
“His works were all easy and in hand,” Mandella said. “He jumped up and did that without a lot of strong preparation.
“He did it very professionally. I thought he was very impressive.”
Geaux Rocket Ride was purchased as a yearling for $350,000. He is by Candy Ride and out of Beyond Grace, an Uncle Mo mare who was winless in three starts in 2017 and 2018. Geaux Rocket Ride is her first foal to race.
Mandella won the 2022 San Felipe Stakes with Forbidden Kingdom, who was later last of six as the even-money favorite in the Santa Anita Derby. Forbidden Kingdom was found to be suffering from a throat ailment at the time.
Forbidden Kingdom was second in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, and will remain in sprints. Mandella has selected the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 11 for Forbidden Kingdom’s 4-year-old debut.
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