Geaux Rocket Ride, Skinner Regroup in Affirmed

Geaux Rocket Ride  and Skinner , two last-out scratches from grade 1 races this spring, chase a consolation prize when they lead a field of six 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park June 4.

Geaux Rocket Ride and Skinner were respectively withdrawn from the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1), reportedly due to elevated temperatures. Skinner was one of five scratches from the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs during a period of tight veterinary scrutiny amid a spike in equine fatalities there.

Geaux Rocket Ride—a debut winner Jan. 29 at Santa Anita who finished second behind Practical Move but ahead of third-place Skinner in a follow-up start in the March 4 San Felipe Stakes (G2)—worked four times last month at Santa Anita Park for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. The speedy Pin Oak Stud-owned son of Candy Ride   is likely to be prominent early under Ramon Vasquez in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed.

Skinner, a son of Curlin   trained by John Shirreffs, has been third in three graded stakes over his six-race career. He also won a maiden race Feb. 12 at Santa Anita.

After showing in the San Felipe, he ran a wide third in the Santa Anita Derby, beaten just a half-length—a performance that had led some handicappers to believe he could contend in the Kentucky Derby, an opportunity that never materialized after he shipped and trained there the week leading up to the race.

Skinner, whose first stakes placing came last year in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), is owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, whose turf horse Exaulted  captured the Shoemaker Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita May 29 for trainer Peter Eurton.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith is aboard Skinner.

Ze'bul , Del Mar Jerry , Mr Fisk , and Hard to Figure  complete the field. Bob Baffert trains the latter two 3-year-olds.

Hard to Figure and Ze'Bul race with blinkers on.

The Affirmed, downgraded this year from grade 3 to listed status, was captured in 2022 by Hopper , this year's Oaklawn Mile (G3) winner for Baffert. 

The final stakes race for 3-year-old males of the spring meet at Santa Anita Park, the Affirmed Stakes leads toward the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby July 8 at Los Alamitos Race Course. The summer meet at Del Mar follows the afternoon Los Angeles County Fair Meet at Los Alamitos.