Geaux Rocket Ride tired after Haskell win, possible for Shared Belief
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Geaux Rocket Ride, winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park last Saturday, returned to trainer Richard Mandella’s Del Mar stable earlier this week, and is scheduled to have his next start on Labor Day weekend.
Mandella said on Thursday that he has expanded the list of possible races for Geaux Rocket Ride to include the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile Sept. 3, as well as the previously mentioned Grade 1 Pacific Classic against older horses at 1 1/4 miles Sept. 2.
“I might think of the Shared Belief,” Mandella said. “I’ll nominate to both. We’ll see who is in there.”
“If it were easier than the Pacific Classic, I’d like that. I’ve put a little pressure on him.
“Those are just possibilities. Those are things we’ll look at.”
The Shared Belief is the richest open dirt stakes for 3-year-olds at the summer meeting. Del Mar emphasizes turf racing for 3-year-olds in the summer, with two graded stakes for the division on that surface.
On Thursday, Geaux Rocket Ride was walked at Mandella’s barn with the expectation that he will resume trackwork this weekend.
“He looks a little tired,” Mandella said.
Geaux Rocket Ride won the Haskell in his first start outside of California, his third win in four starts for Pin Oak Stud.
Earlier on the Monmouth Park program last Saturday, the Mandella-trained Planetario finished fifth in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on turf. Mandella said on Thursday that Planetario has been supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup program for $50,000, which will make the 5-year-old Brazilian-bred gelding eligible to the lucrative race series for the remainder of his career.
Planetario finished two lengths behind Therapist in the United Nations Stakes, but was beaten two noses for third after closing with interest on the rail.
“He did get hit in the eye, maybe a clod or something, that bruised his eye pretty good, but he’s fine now,” Mandella said.
Planetario is a candidate for the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Sept. 2, the winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita Nov. 4.
Planetario won the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita in June.
Mandella, who starts Royal Ship in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, has stakes objectives on turf later this summer for two 3-year-old fillies and one of the stable’s leading sprinter.
Window Shopping, the winner of the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on dirt at Santa Anita in June, and Ruby Nell, who extended a winning streak to two races in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on turf July 22, are candidates for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf Aug. 19.
Lane Way, rested after a win in the Clocker’s Corner Stakes at Santa Anita in January, could start in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf Sept. 2. The winner of the $150,000 Green Flash earns an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 4.
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