Geaux Rocket Ride preps for Haskell with Affirmed Stakes triumph
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ARCADIA, Calif. - An ideal trip led to a first career stakes win for Geaux Rocket Ride in Sunday’s $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita, a prep to an intended start in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 22.
Geaux Rocket Ride ($3) stalked a solid pace set by 9-2 Del Mar Jerry and 6-1 Hard to Figure, circled those rivals on the turn, and pulled away to win by 1 3/4 lengths in his third start.
At some point along the way, Geaux Rocket Ride lost a shoe, but that did not hamper his performance.
Ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Geaux Rocket Ride ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.75.
“He’s a classy little dude,” trainer Richard Mandella said.
The Affirmed Stakes was Geaux Rocket Ride’s first start since a second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 4. Geaux Rocket Ride was scratched from the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8 because of illness. He resumed workouts on May 1 for the Affirmed Stakes.
Geaux Rocket Ride was a heavy favorite in the Affirmed Stakes after the withdrawal of Skinner, who was third in the Santa Anita Derby in his last start. Skinner was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5 a day before the race for a reported elevated temperature.
Trainer John Shirreffs scratched Skinner from the Affirmed Stakes on Saturday after the colt “didn’t jog sufficiently well,” he said on Sunday.
Geaux Rocket Ride broke from the outside in a field of five in the Affirmed Stakes. He tracked the early pace of 23.27 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.11 for a half-mile.
Geaux Rocket Ride quickly took control of the race in early stretch and led by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. Mr Fisk (4-1) was fourth early and closed through the stretch to finish second, six lengths clear of Hard to Figure, who bled in the race.
Ze’bul, who stumbled at the start, and Del Mar Jerry completed the order of finish.
Geaux Rocket Ride, by Candy Ride, has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $180,200 for owner Pin Oak Stud.
Bought for $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale in 2021, Geaux Rocket Ride will face a test in a nationally prominent race in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at 1 1/8 miles.
“The Haskell would be my guess,” Mandella said when asked about Geaux Rocket Ride’s next race. “It’s something to think about.”
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