Geaux Rocket Ride Wins Affirmed, Eyeing Haskell

Forced to miss the Santa Anita Derby (G1) due to illness, Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride came back running in the June 4 $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park as he stalked a fast pace and accelerated to a 1 3/4-length win, getting 1 1/16 miles under Ramon Vazquez in 1:43.75. Geaux Rocket Ride's effort prompted his Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella to say he'd point to the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park for the colt's next engagement July 22. Sent off at 1-2 odds in a field of five sophomores, Geaux Rocket Ride was content to sit a reserved third off of both Del Mar Jerry and Hard to Figure as they slugged it out through fast fractions to the quarter pole. At that point, Vazquez tipped three-deep and assumed complete command as Mr. Fisk rallied from well back to complete the exacta. A 5 3/4-length first-out maiden winner going six furlongs at Santa Anita Jan. 29, Geaux Rocket Ride was most recently a solid second to eventual Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move going 1 1/16 miles in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 4. He returned $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10 in the Affirmed. "He's just a classy little dude," said an elated Mandella. "We will probably look into the Haskell. We are going to enjoy this one today, but that will be the one we look to." Geaux Rocket Ride, a Kentucky-bred colt by Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Uncle Mo mare Beyond Grace, got his first stakes win and his second win from three career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $180,200. Geaux Rocket Ride is the mare's only starter from two foals of racing age. "He is a completely good horse," said Vazquez, who rode Geaux Rocket Ride for the first time and notched a riding double on the day. "Today, it was my first time on him and he showed me what a good horse he is. I got a very good trip and I got in a position where I was really comfortable and when I asked him, he responded very well. He is a really good horse." Although he couldn't go with the winner around the far turn, Mr Fisk put in a solid bid for second money and finished a half dozen lengths in front of Hard to Figure. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Mr Fisk paid $3.20 and $2.10 while off as the second choice at 4-1. Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Hard to Figure was off at 6-1 and paid $2.20 to show while prevailing by 2 3/4 lengths over longshot Ze'bul, who stumbled leaving the gate and was last to deep stretch. Fractions on the race were :23.27, :46.11, 1:10.29, and 1:36.74. Geaux Rocket Ride was sold to Jim Bernhard, who purchased Pin Oak with his wife Dana in 2022, at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale for $350,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.