This year's GI Haskell was flattered by a GI Kentucky Derby winner in Mage (Good Magic), an undefeated $2.3 million OBS purchase in Arabian Knight (Uncle), in addition to this season's
GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Tapit Trice (Tapit), who realized a healthy $1.3 million at Keeneland last September. However, it was Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella who pulled the rabbit out his hat with Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), who sprang the upset when coming from off the pace to best the Derby winner at odds of 12-1 in the 'Win and You're In' test for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in November.
As smart as that looks, the honest truth is that I'm 72 years old and I thought I'm not going to let this get away from me. I'm going to go again,” said Mandella, who was returning to the Haskell for the first time since winning the race with Dixie Union in 2000.
“There is no man better to have this horse in his hands than Mr. Mandella,” said Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who was winning his record fourth Haskell. “He's only going to get better. We saw that today. This was the deepest Haskell field I've seen in a long time. For him to perform that was is a credit to Mr. Mandella and his whole crew. Of course, Geaux Rocket Ride deserves all the credit, too.”
Smith explained, “I think Richard was very confident in this horse. I was, too. When I found out two or three weeks that I was going to get the opportunity to ride this horse, my agent called me from New York and I was in California I flipped out of my bed I was so excited. I just knew there was a lot of upside to this horse and room to get better.”
Geaux Rocket Ride was taken in hand by Hall of Famer Mike Smith from Post 1 as Awesome Strong (Awesome Slew) immediately assumed command, but was soon joined by the fleet-footed Arabian Knight, who was hustled into contention by Johnny Velazquez from their outside draw. Carving out an opening quarter in :22.80, even-money choice Arabian Knight overtook the 60-1 shot down the backside, throwing down a, equally confident-looking half in :47.11. Meanwhile, the Pin Oak Stud runner was camped out wide as a slew of challengers swarmed in on the front-running duo including Mage, who was covered up between rivals yet picking up momentum with every stride.
With Smith giving his charge the signal leaving the backstretch, Geaux Rocket Ride bore down on leading Arabian Knight as Mage continued drew ever closer while widest of all. With the trio entering the home turn in almost unison, Geau Rocket Ride and Mage inched ahead of the wilting favorite, and while it looked like this year's Derby winner would just roll on by, he found another gear and pulled away late to score by a two-length margin over Mage. Arabian Knight held on to round the trifecta.
“When Arabian Knight went out to the front I was very happy that [Awesome Strong] went out there with him,” explained Smith. “He wasn't getting away with anything easy and on his own, which I wasn't going to let happen if someone else didn't do it. But I was glad someone else did my dirty work and I was able to tip out and just relax.”
Smith added, “I always felt like I had a lot of horse left, but you don't know. When you get to them, they might, too, so I was just happy.”
“This horse is super intelligent. When you have a horse that has a brilliant mind you just work together. It's so much easier. It's like slicing butter with a hot knife. He just moves when you tell him to move. He does everything he's supposed to do.”
As for the runner-up, trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. said, “This horse is very, very good. I think that five works, six works would have been better, but I had only four [going into the Haskell]. This race was very good for him. This sets him up going forward. It's a long year. There are many races more.”
Regarding the beaten favorite, Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Bob Baffert, explained, “It's quite possible that the long layoff caught up to him. He hasn't run since the end of January. He jumped out of there running and he was just third best today. We're starting the second half of the schedule [for 3-year-olds] and there are a lot of races left to run.”
Saturday's Haskell Day card drew 35,286 with on-track handle of $1,717,876.
Geaux Rocket Ride debuted with an eye-catching 5 3/4-length victory going six furlongs at Santa Anita Jan. 29 before coming home a respectable second to Practical Move (Practical Joke) in the 8 1/2-furlong GII San Felipe S. Mar. 4. Missing the GI Santa Anita Derby because of a fever, thus dashing any Derby aspirations, the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton July graduate once again found the winner's circle following Santa Anita's Affirmed S. June 4.
Pedigree Note:
Geaux Rocket Ride earns Candy Ride his 18th Group 1/Grade I victory. A full-sister to SP Mighty Mo, Beyond Grace is out of Flowers Athefinish, a half to Grade III winner Lotus Pool and Grade I placed Golden Larch. The 8-year-old mare produced a filly by Rowayton earlier this season and was bred back to Instilled Regard.
Saturday, Monmouth Park
TVG.COM HASKELL S.-GI, $1,017,500, Monmouth, 7-22, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.52, ft.
1–GEAUX ROCKET RIDE, 119, c, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Flowers Athefinish, by Grand Reward
3rd Dam: Golden Petal, by Mr. Prospector
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE 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. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mage, 122, 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.
3–Arabian Knight, 119, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Borealis Night, by Astrology. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $2,300,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $100,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2, 2. Odds: 12.70, 4.30, 1.10.
Also Ran: Extra Anejo, Tapit Trice, Howgreatisnate, Salute the Stars, Awesome Strong.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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