Pin Oak Stud LLC's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the GI TVG.com Haskell S. ahead of a runner-up effort in the GI TVG Pacific Classic, breezed three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.80 over the Santa Anita main track Friday morning as he resumed his serious preparations for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4.
Taking to the track at around 7:45 a.m. PT, the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate was put through his paces by regular rider and four-time Classic winner Mike Smith, who pronounced himself pleased with the move.
“It was a good work, especially for him,” Smith said of Geaux Rocket Ride. “He's never been the flashiest horse in the morning.”
Geaux Rocket Ride breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 (3/11) Oct. 3 and also went six panels on Oct. 9, but a time was not recorded owing to heavy morning fog. Trainer Richard Mandella said that the colt spiked a bit of a temperature out of that work, but recovered quickly.
“We had to put him on an antibiotic,” said the conditioner, who saddled Pleasant Perfect (Pleasant Colony) to victory in the 2003 Classic, one of an historic four wins on the program. “Luckily, he got right through it. It didn't amount to much. We're happy. Next week he'll have a better work.”
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Geaux Rocket Ride (Outside), 1:13.80, and Salesman, 1:14.60, worked 6 Furlongs on October 20th, 2023, for trainer Richard Mandella. pic.twitter.com/sbtcLxfbjY
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) October 20, 2023
Three stakes winners from two weekends ago also returned to the tab Friday morning. Chatalas (Gun Runner), victorious in the GII Chandelier S. for trainer Mark Glatt, drilled a half-mile in :47.40 (3/48) and is expected to make her next appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 3. Amerman Racing's Endlessly (Oscar Performance), who remained unbeaten in three starts in the GIII Zuma Beach S., geared up for the GI Juvenile Turf with a four-furlong move that was timed in :48.20 (19/48). Slider (Jimmy Creed), who earned a berth in the field for the GI Juvenile Turf Sprint courtesy of his score in the Speakeasy S., went a similar distance in :47.40.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
