Geaux Rocket Ride (April 4, 2020 – November 1, 2023) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grade I Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in 2023 as a three-year-old.[2]
| Geaux Rocket Ride | |
|---|---|
 Geaux Rocket Ride being led to the paddock before the 2023 Pacific Classic | |
| Sire | Candy Ride (ARG) |
| Grandsire | Ride the Rails |
| Dam | Beyond Grace |
| Damsire | Uncle Mo |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | April 4, 2020[1] |
| Died | November 1, 2023 (aged 3) |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Bay |
| Breeder | OXO Equine |
| Owner | Pin Oak Stud (James Bernhard) |
| Trainer | Richard E. Mandella |
| Record | 5: 3-2-0 |
| Earnings | $980,200[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Haskell Stakes (2023) | |
| Last updated on September 3, 2023 | |
Background
editGeaux Rocket Ride was a bay colt that was bred in Kentucky, United States by OXO Equine in 2020. He was sired by Argentine-bred Candy Ride, winner of the 2003 Grade I Pacific Classic Stakes. Geaux Rocket Ride earned Candy Ride his 18th Group 1/Grade I victory.[3] Candy Ride stands at Lane's End Farm for $75,000. Out of the Uncle Mo mare Beyond Grace, Geaux Rocket Ride was purchased from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale by James Bernhard for $350,000. James Bernhard later bought the historic Pin Oak Stud in Kentucky in November 2022 and registered the horse under the stud's ownership.[4]
Beyond Grace was a full-sister to SP Mighty Mo, and was out of Flowers Athefinish, a half to Grade III winner Lotus Pool and Grade I placed Golden Larch. In 2023 the mare produced a filly by Rowayton earlier this season and was bred back to Instilled Regard.[3]
Career
editGeaux Rocket Ride debuted with an eye-catching 5+3⁄4-length victory going six furlongs at Santa Anita on January 29, 2023, before coming home a respectable second to Practical Move in the 8+1⁄2-furlong GII San Felipe Stakes on March 4. Geaux Rocket Ride missed the GI Santa Anita Derby because of a fever with Practical Move winning the Santa Anita Derby. Geaux Rocket Ride once again found the winner's circle in the Santa Anita's Listed Affirmed Stakes on June 4.[3]
His next start would be his grade 1 debut in the Haskell Stakes. It was the first time his trainer Richard Mandella had run a horse in the Haskell since the year 2000 when he ran that years winner Dixie Union. Among his rivals were the 2023 Kentucky Derby Mage and Arabian Knight who despite not racing since February was the post time favorite. Arabian Knight broke the fastest with Salute the Soldier while Geaux Rocket Ride rested a few lengths behind them. He got on even terms when they reached the far turn and past him at the top of the stretch. Mage would mount a challenge on the outside but Geaux Rocket successfully held him off to win his first Grade 1.[5]
Geaux Rocket Ride did not stay on the east coast for the Travers Stakes and the plan was always to bring him back to California for his next race. The Pacific Classic would be a new challenge for Geaux Rocket Ride as it was the first time he would go the classic distance of 1 1/4 and the first time he would face against older horses.
He would have another match against Arabian Knight where the race initially started the same way as the Haskell. Arabian Knight took the lead but this time had no one to challenge him early and Geaux Rocket Ride stalked in third. Geaux Rocket Ride would charge late on the outside but this time was unable to catch Arabian Knight and lost by a neck.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2023) |
Injury and death
editIn preparation for the Breeders' Cup, Geaux Rocket Ride sustained a serious condylar fracture during a morning run at Santa Anita Park.[6] On November 1, 2023, Pin Oak Stud announced that Geaux Rocket Ride had been euthanized. He was 3.[7]
Statistics
edit| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Jan 29, 2023 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Santa Anita | 6.10 | 6 | 1 | 1:09.52 | 5+3⁄4 lengths | Flavien Prat | [8] | |
| Mar 4, 2023 | 1+1⁄16 miles | San Felipe Stakes | II | Santa Anita | 2.70* | 9 | 2 | 1:42.01 | (2+1⁄2 lengths) | Flavien Prat | [9] |
| Jun 4, 2023 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Affirmed Stakes | Listed | Santa Anita | 0.50* | 5 | 1 | 1:43.75 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | Ramon Vazquez | [10] |
| Jul 22, 2023 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Haskell Stakes | I | Monmouth Park | 12.70 | 8 | 1 | 1:49.52 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | Mike E. Smith | [11] |
| Sep 2, 2023 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Pacific Classic Stakes | I | Del Mar | 2.20 | 10 | 2 | 2:03.19 | (neck) | Mike E. Smith | [12] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Geaux Rocket Ride was the post-time favorite.
Pedigree
edit| Sire Candy Ride (ARG) (1999) |
Ride the Rails (1991) |
Cryptoclearance (1984) |
Fappiano (1977) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Orange (1975) | |||
| Herbalesian (1969) |
Herbager (FR) (1956) | ||
| Alanesian (1954) | |||
| Candy Girl (ARG) (2008) |
Candy Stripes (1982) |
Blushing Groom (FR) (1974) | |
| Bubble Company (FR) (1977) | |||
| City Girl (ARG) (1982) |
Farnesio (ARG) (1974) | ||
| Cithara (1975) | |||
| Dam Beyond Grace (2015) |
Uncle Mo (1997) |
Indian Charlie (1995) |
In Excess (IRE) (1987) |
| Soviet Sojourn (1989) | |||
| Playa Maya (2000) |
Arch (1995) | ||
| Dixie Slippers (1995) | |||
| Flowers Athefinish (2007) |
Grand Reward (2001) |
Storm Cat (1983) | |
| Serena's Song (1992) | |||
| Golden Petal (1981) |
Mr. Prospector (1970) | ||
| Hatton's Rose (1973) (Family: 1-n)[13] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Pedigree of Geaux Rocket Ride". Equineline. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Profile of Geaux Rocket Ride". Equibase. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "'Geaux' Rockets to Haskell Victory". thoroughbreddailynews.com. July 22, 2023. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ Ehalt, Bob (July 22, 2023). "Geaux Rocket Ride Turns Back Mage in Haskell; Favored Arabian Knight lost for the first time and settled for third". bloodhorse.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ "Geaux Rocket Ride Turns Back Mage in Haskell".
- ^ Gantz, Tracy; Eberhardt, Anne M. (October 28, 2023). "Geaux Rocket Ride Injured in Work at Santa Anita Park Haskell Stakes (G1) winner was working toward a start in Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)". Bloodhorse.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ "Geaux Rocket Ride euthanized; 2nd death ahead of Breeders' Cup". ESPN. November 2, 2023. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ "Santa Anita Park: Maiden Special Weight (race 3)". Equibase. January 29, 2023. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ "2023 San Felipe Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. March 4, 2023. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Affirmed Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ "2023 TVG.com Haskell Stakes Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. July 22, 2023. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ "2023 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. September 2, 2023. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Biddy – Family 1-n". www.bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2023.