Geaux Rocket Ride Works for BC Classic at Santa Anita

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Geaux Rocket Ride Works for BC Classic at Santa Anita
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Geaux Rocket Ride wins the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park

Haskell Sakes (G1) victor and Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) runner-up Geaux Rocket Ride  continued his preparations for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 4 with a six-furlong work in company under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith Oct. 20 at Santa Anita Park.

Sent to the main track around 7:45 a.m., Geaux Rocket Ride completed the move in an official time of 1:13 4/5. His workmate, the stakes-placed 6-year-old gelding Salesman , was timed in 1:14 3/5.

"It was a good work, especially for him," Smith said of Geaux Rocket Ride. "He's never been the flashiest horse in the morning."

Eleven days ago, Geaux Rocket Ride also drilled six furlongs, but the work was not recorded because of dense fog that left the colt out of view. Trainer Richard Mandella on Friday said Geaux Rocket Ride emerged from that work with a slight temperature but bounced back quickly.

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"We had to put him on an antibiotic," the trainer noted. "Luckily, he got right through it. It didn't amount to much. We're happy. Next week he'll have a better work."

A 3-year-old son of Candy Ride   campaigned by Pin Oak Stud, Geaux Rocket Ride has three wins and a pair of seconds in five starts this year. He was most recently second to Arabian Knight  in the Sept. 2 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, which is at the same 1 1/4-mile distance of the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Geaux Rocket Ride was among several horses to work Friday morning who are pointing to the Breeders' Cup. Three horses who won stakes here two weekends ago—Chatalas , Endlessly , and Slider —all returned to the tab following their triumphs.  

Chatalas, winner of the Chandelier Stakes (G2) Oct. 7 for trainer Mark Glatt, went four furlongs in :47 2/5. The Gun Runner   filly is pointed to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 3.

The one-two finishers of the Oct. 8 Zuma Beach Stakes (G3T) both recorded workouts Friday. The Zuma Beach winner, Endlessly, breezed four furlongs in :48 1/5 for trainer Michael McCarthy. His stablemate and Zuma Beach runner-up Ngannou , was also timed in :48 1/5 for a half-mile. Both horses are pointing for the Nov. 3 $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) candidate Slider recorded a half-mile in :47 2/5 for trainer John Sadler. The Jimmy Creed   colt won the Speakeasy Stakes Oct. 7 over the Santa Anita turf.