Royal Ship easily takes John Shear Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - The $82,000 John Shear Mile at Santa Anita on Sunday was a trial race for Royal Ship for an upcoming graded stakes.

The decision facing trainer Richard Mandella and owners Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm is whether to focus on major stakes at Belmont Park or Santa Anita later this spring.

Royal Ship ($4.80) won the John Shear Mile by five lengths under jockey Mike Smith, the 6-year-old gelding’s first start since a seventh in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last August. Earlier in 2021, Royal Ship won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and was second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup, both at Santa Anita.

Mandella said those races at Santa Anita on April 30 and May 30 and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on June 11 will be considered.

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“I think he can run a mile to a mile and a quarter,” Mandella said. “We’ll look at the races here and we’ll look at the Met Mile.”

Sent off favored in the John Shear Mile, Royal Ship stalked pacesetter Affable through early fractions of 23.10 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.95 for a half-mile. Smith moved Royal Ship to the lead on the turn, saving ground throughout the race. Royal Ship was quickly clear of six rivals, leading by four lengths with a furlong remaining.

Royal Ship was timed in 1:36.07.

Triple Tap (7-2) closed from third to finish second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of 8-1 Affable. Shooters Shoot, Restrainedvengence, Extra Hope and Lambeau completed the order of finish.

Royal Ship, a Brazilian-bred by Midshipman, has won 7 of 16 starts and earned $342,405. The John Shear Mile was his fifth stakes win. Royal Ship won three consecutive stakes in Brazil in 2019 and 2020, including the Group 1 Estado do Rio de Janeiro at about a mile on turf in February 2020.

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