Lewis runner-up Roman Centurian works for San Felipe

Roman Centurian, beaten a neck when second in his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis on Jan. 30, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds on Friday at Santa Anita in preparation for a vital start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 6.

The $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles is a key prep for the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Roman Centurian had his first work since the Lewis.

“It was a chance to stretch his legs,” Callaghan said. “I was happy with him.”

Owned by Don Alberto Stable and Qatar Racing, Roman Centurian, a colt by Empire Maker, began the year with an attractive win in a maiden special weight race at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 3 at Santa Anita, his second career start.

The San Felipe field is expected to include Life Is Good, winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile on Jan. 2 who is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Bob Baffert.

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Friday, the 4-year-old filly Harvest Moon worked five furlongs in 1:01 for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares on March 13. Trained by Callaghan, Harvest Moon won graded stakes at Del Mar and Santa Anita last August and September before finishing fourth by 2 1/2 lengths to eventual champion older female Monomoy Girl in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Harvest Moon has had five workouts since Jan. 10.

“She’s on a good pattern,” Callaghan said.

The stakes winners Astute and Royal Ship worked on Friday for trainer Richard Mandella.

Astute won the Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Nov. 14 at Del Mar, but was fourth in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 5 at Los Alamitos, a race in which she sustained bruised feet.

Friday, Astute worked a half-mile in 46.80, the fastest of 37 works at the distance. Astute may start in March, although Mandella said he would prefer a one-turn race for the filly’s first start of 2021.

“We may have to go out of town,” he said.

Royal Ship, a Group 1 winner in Brazil, was recently gelded, Mandella said, and is being pointed to the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf March 6. Royal Ship worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Friday.