Mandella sets sights on Memorial Day weekend stakes

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella may have a memorable Memorial Day weekend next month.

Three of the stable’s leading runners – Royal Ship, Soothsay, and United – are scheduled to run in graded stakes at Santa Anita on consecutive days. All three have won stakes since late March.

United, California’s leading turf marathoner in the last year, will start in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 29. United, 6, was second in the 2019 Whittingham and won the race last year. More recently, United won the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes on March 20.

On May 30, Soothsay is expected to have her third start in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Unbeaten, Soothsay won her stakes debut in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3.

Royal Ship won Saturday’s Grade 2 Californian Stakes in what Mandella described as “probably” a prep for the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 31. The Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf the same day is an option.

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Another stakes winner, Tizamagician, who won the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles on dirt Sunday, could run in the Gold Cup or the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf June 19.

Mandella in the midst of a strong recent span, having won with 5 of his last 15 starters from March 13 through Sunday.

“It’s nice when it starts working,” Mandella said.