This year’s GI Haskell was flattered by the GI Kentucky Derby winner in magician (good magic), an undefeated $2.3 million OBS purchase in Arab Knights (Uncle), in addition to this season’s installment
Winner GI Toyota Blue Grass S. faucet Trice (faucet), who made $1.3 million at Keeneland last September. However, it was Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella who pulled the rabbit out of his hat with Ride the rocket rocket Geaux (candy ride {Arg}), who caused disappointment when he overcame the Derby winner 12-1 in the ‘Win and You’re in’ test for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in November.
As smart as it looks, but the honest truth is I’m 72 years old and I think I’m not going to let this get away from me. I’ll go again,” said Mandella, who returned to Haskell for the first time since winning the race against the Dixie Union in 2000.
“There is no better man with this horse than Mr. Mandella,” said Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who won the Haskell record for the fourth time. “He will only get better. We saw that today. This is the deepest Haskell field I’ve seen in a long time. For him to do that is a credit to Mr. Mandella and his entire crew. Of course, the Geaux Rocket Ride also deserves credit.”
Smith explained, “I think Richard has a lot of faith in this horse. Me too. When I learned that in two or three weeks I would have the opportunity to ride this horse, my agent called me from New York and I was in California, and I jumped out of bed and was so excited. I just know that there’s a lot of upside to this horse and can get better.
The Geaux Rocket Ride has been held by Hall of Famer Mike Smith since Lesson 1 as the great strong (Awesome Slew) immediately assumed command, but was soon joined by the fleet-footed Arab Knights, who were huddled by Johnny Velazquez from their outside draw. Ending the opening half with a score of: 22.80, even-money pick The Arab Knights beat the score 60-1 in the back, knocking out an equally confident half with a score of 47.11. Meanwhile, the Pin Oak Stud runner was widely camped as a barrage of challengers flooded the front running duo, including Mage, who was hidden between rivals but still gaining momentum with each stride.
With Smith giving his charge signal away from the backseat, the Geaux Rocket Ride took down the Arab Knights in the lead as the Mage continued to draw ever closer while widest. With the trio heading into the second leg almost in unison, Geau Rocket Ride and Mage inched ahead of their withering favorite, and while it looked like this year’s Derby winner would continue to push through, he found another piece of equipment and went late to score two yards away from Mage. The Arabian Knights have continued to round out the trilogy.
“When the Arabian Knights went to the front, I was happy because [Awesome Strong] went out there with him,” Smith explained. “He can’t get away with anything easily on his own, which I wouldn’t let if someone else didn’t. But I’m glad someone else did my dirty work and I can go out and relax.”
Smith added, “I always feel like I have a lot of horses left, but you never know. When you go to them, they probably do too, so I’m happy.
“This horse is super smart. When you have a smart horse, you just have to work together. It’s much easier. It’s like cutting butter with a hot knife. He only moves when you tell him to move. He does all he has to do.”
As for the runner-up, coach Gustavo Delgado Sr. This horse is very, very good. I think five works, six works would be better, but I only have four [going into the Haskell]. This race is very good for him. This puts him ahead. It was a long year. There are many more races.”
As for the favorite, Jimmy Barnes, Bob Baffert’s assistant, explained, “It’s very likely he’s been fired for a long time. He hasn’t run for office since late January. He jumped out there and ran and he’s only third today. We are starting the second half of the schedule [for 3-year-olds] and there are plenty of races left to run.
Saturday’s Haskell Day Card attracted 35,286 with a tracking settlement of $1,717,876.
The Geaux Rocket Ride debuted with an eye-catching 5 3/4 stretch win after six runs at Santa Anita on January 29 before going home in a respectable second place ahead of Actual Motion (Realistic jokes) in the GII San Felipe S. March 4 lasted 8 1/2. Missing the GI Santa Anita Derby because of a fever, thus dashing any Derby aspirations, the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton July graduate found his circle of winners again after S. Santa Anita’s assertion on June 4.
Genealogical notes:
Geaux Rocket Ride earned candy ride his 18th Group 1/Class I win. A half-sister to SP Mighty Mo, Beyond Grace has no Flowers Athefinish, a Golden Larch ranked third place and Lotus Pool winner. 8 year old mare gives birth to a filthy pig Rowayton beginning of this season and bred again instilled care.
Saturday, Monmouth Park
TVG.COM HASKELL S.-HOLD$1,017,500, Monmouth, 7-22, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.52, ft.
first-GEAUX ROCKET RIDE, 119, c, 3, by candy ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo
Second Dam: Athefinish Flower, by Great Reward
3rd dam: Yellow Petals, by Mr.
STOCK CLASS 1 WIN, CLASS 1 I WIN. ($350,000 Ylg ’21 FTKJUL). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Mike E. Smith. $600,000. Lifetime record: 4-3-1-0, $780,200. Nick works Rating: A++. click for eNicks report & pedigree 5 cross. free click Equineline.com portfolio style pedigree.
2-magician122, c, 3, good magic–Puca, by Big Brown. ($235,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP; $290,000 2yo ’22 EASMAY). O-OGMA Investments, LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH; B-Grandview Equine (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado. 200,000 USD.
3–Arab Knights119, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Borealis Night, according to Astrology. BLACK TYPE 1ST G1. ($250,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP; $2,300,000 Ylg ’22 OBSAPR). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Corser Purebred LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. 100,000 USD.
Handicap: 1 3/4, 2, 2. Odds: 12.70, 4.30, 1.10.
Also runs: Extra Anejo, faucet Trice, It’s Amazing, Hello Stars, Amazingly Powerful.
click for Equibase.com chart and TJCIS.com PP. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Hall of Famers Richard Mandella and Mike Smith team up to win (GI) https://t.co/nBYFHiPrdh Haskell shares at @MonmouthPark with #1 GEAUX ROCKET RIDE ($27.40) for @PinOakStud. The son of candy ride earn a place in @BreedersCup Classic. #WinAndYouIn @LanesEndFarms. pic.twitter.com/49t3VYDCyg
– TVG (@TVG) July 22, 2023
