Geaux Rocket Ride

Geaux Rocket Ride made his career debut Jan. 29, 2023, for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and led every step of the way in a 5 ¾-length runaway victory under Flavien Prat at Santa Anita Park.

Mandella and owner Pin Oak Stud were impressed enough with his debut effort to test him next on the 2023 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve trail in the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes March 4. The Candy Ride colt pressed pacesetter Hejazi early and finished second to dominant winner Practical Move to bank 20 points toward qualifying for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.  

Due to a fever, Geaux Rocket Ride was scratched from a final prep for the Kentucky Derby, the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, and as a result missed the May 6 Derby at Churchill Downs as well.

Geaux Rocket Ride returned from the brief layoff on June 4 in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita, where he won impressively by 1 3/4 lengths under jockey Ramon Vazquez.

With the prep race win in the Affirmed under his best, Geaux Rocket Ride shipped to Monmouth Park to make his next start in the $1 million Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 22. After drifting up to 12.70-1 odds on the tote board at post time off of a 9-2 morning line, Geaux Rocket Ride stalked a hot pace under jockey Mike Smith, took over the lead at the top of the stretch, and then held off alate bid by Kentucky Derby winner Mage to win the Haskell by a margin of 1 3/4 lengths in a 1 1/8-mile time of 1:49.52.  

Geaux Rocket Ride was produced by the Uncle Mo mare Beyond Grace.