Forbidden Kingdom shows right stuff in work for Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Forbidden Kingdom will enter the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in top shape following a seven-furlong workout Thursday at Santa Anita that alleviates two potential concerns.

First of all, the Thursday workout renders irrelevant the missed workout two weeks ago due to a fever. As trainer Richard Mandella suggested, it was no big deal. Forever Kingdom has posted two solid works since recovering.

The second concern relates to Forbidden Kingdom’s high-speed running style. The ongoing challenge for Mandella was to settle down Forbidden Kingdom, teach him to ration his speed and save his energy for the stretch. He did that on Thursday.

“Just a nice, steady seven-eighths,” Mandella said. “Very nice, and almost too relaxed, but very nice.”

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Forbidden Kingdom worked alone, timed in 1:26.60. The workout, nine days in front of his April 9 showdown with Messier in the Santa Anita Derby, gives Mandella the option of a short race-week blowout. Forbidden Kingdom will be stretching to a mile and one-eighth in the Santa Anita Derby after Grade 2 wins in the seven-furlong San Vicente and mile and a sixteenth San Felipe.

Mandella also worked comebacker Royal Ship seven furlongs Thursday, also by himself, in quicker time than his stablemate. Unraced since August, Royal Ship was timed in 1:25.20.

“We were letting him work along because he hasn’t run in a while,” Mandella explained regarding the quicker time.

Royal Ship won the Grade 2 Californian last April at Santa Anita, and finished second by a head in the Grade 1 Gold Cup won by Country Grammer. A 6-year-old gelding, Royal Ship is nearing his comeback in a race to be determined.

* Grade 1 winner Idol continues steady progress toward his comeback. Winner of the 2021 Santa Anita Handicap and unraced since October, Idol worked six furlongs Thursday at San Luis Rey Downs in 1:12.40. Richard Baltas trains the 5-year-old.