Forbidden Kingdom works, targets Santa Anita Sprint Championship

Forbidden Kingdom, a two-time Grade 2 winner earlier this year who was sidelined in the spring with illness, worked three furlongs in 36.40 seconds at Del Mar on Friday for an autumn campaign.

“It was a nice work to get started,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

Mandella said he has tentatively scheduled a start for Forbidden Kingdom in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Oct. 1, which would be the colt’s first race in nearly six months.

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Friday’s workout was the first for Forbidden Kingdom since early April, days before he finished last of sixth as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Forbidden Kingdom was diagnosed with a swollen throat after that race, an illness that ended any hope of a start in the Kentucky Derby.

In June, Forbidden Kingdom was out of training after a bout with colic.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm and the My Racehorse syndicate, Forbidden Kingdom has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $434,500. In consecutive starts earlier this year, Forbidden Kingdom won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs and the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, two of the leading races of the year for 3-year-olds in California.

On Thursday, the Mandella-trained Royal Ship, winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 30, worked a rapid half-mile in 46.20 seconds in preparation for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Sept. 3.

Mandella timed Royal Ship in a slightly slower 46.40.

“It was a little quicker than I expected,” he said. “He was full of it.”

Aside from Royal Ship, the $1 million Pacific Classic field is expected to include such prominent runners as the undefeated Flightline, winner of the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 11 in his most recent start, and Express Train, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March.

Express Train, unraced since a second in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on April 30, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Friday.

“I thought the horse looked light on his feet and galloped out really well,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “I was happy with the work. I think he’s coming on really well. Every work has been better for him. His reach and his stride has improved with each work.”