Chocolate takes Fair Grounds foes for a Ride

"Just goes to show us that he's improving significantly right now," assistant

trainer Ricky Giannini said. "You know what they say -- when the horses are

doing good, you have to run them -- there's no reason to keep them in the

barn. Obviously the (Mervin H.) Muniz (Memorial [G2] on March 28) will be the

target now being the same distance and track and he has two wins here now.

"Happy to have Florent on him too -- he's doing so good here and knows this

horse really well."

"My horse broke sharp and I just let him do his thing," Geroux recapped. "No

one wanted to go with him, so I took advantage. I was able to slow him down and

when I asked him down the lane he really took off. My horse ran great."

When asked if he looked over at the jumbotron to see how far he was in front:

"Yeah, why not?  It's a big TV and it's here for that, I guess."

Pyrite Mountain (Silent Name) crossed the wire a further 2 3/4 lengths astern

in third. Highball (Lemon Drop Kid), who was in striking position early,

retreated to fourth. Reigning Muniz champion Skyring (English Channel), who

missed by a nose in the 2014 Fair Grounds' Cap, faded to last of 10 as the 5-2

favorite.

Bred by Brian Kahn in Kentucky, Chocolate Ride sold for $260,000 as a

Keeneland September yearling. He was dropped in for a $40,000 tag at Churchill

Downs November 21, and his current connections promptly claimed him from owner

John C. Oxley and trainer Mark Casse. Third that day on the main track,

Chocolate Ride reverted to turf for his new barn. He was second in an

entry-level allowance at Fair Grounds December 21, a distant last in a similar

event that was rained off the turf January 17, and a convincing 3 ½-length

winner last time. His scorecard now stands at 11-3-2-2, $162,191.

Chocolate Ride is a half-brother to Grade 1 queen Killer Graces (Congaree).

Their dam, the winning Heatherdoesntbluff (Old Trieste), is also responsible for

the multiple stakes-placed Rockin Heather (In Excess).

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