Geaux Rocket Ride, one of the leading contenders in next weekend’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, is fighting for his life after sustaining a displaced condylar fracture to his right front leg during a workout Saturday morning at the Arcadia track with Mike Smith aboard.
The 3-year-old colt was taken via equine ambulance to the Southern California Equine Foundation hospital at Santa Anita and then transferred back to the Richard Mandella barn for further evaluation.
Smith, who was uninjured, told David Grening of the Daily Racing Form that he heard a “tiny pop” during the 7-furlong workout. “As soon as I did, I stopped him as fast as I could,” Smith said.
Mandella told DRF that surgery is planned for Sunday morning, but that the prognosis is not good.
“It’s going to be a delicate situation, it’s going to be lucky to make it, but we’re going to do everything we can,” he said. “If it starts to become a detriment, we won’t do it.”
Mandella said the threat of infection “is going to make it an uphill battle.”
The son of Candy Ride was examined extensively by a team of veterinarians from the Breeders’ Cup, 1/ST Racing and the California Horse Racing Board before being allowed to work. His scheduled work Friday morning had been postponed because of tender feet after receiving new shoes, according to Mandella.
Geaux Rocket Ride, second behind Arabian Knight in last month’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar, won three of five starts, including the Haskell at Monmouth Park in July.