Royal Ship likely to make return in San Diego Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. - Royal Ship, a two-time stakes winner in the last 16 months, is likely to make his next start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 30, a key prep to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Sept. 3.
Trainer Richard Mandella said on Friday he is also considering the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on July 31, but was leaning toward the $300,000 San Diego at 1 1/16 miles.
Royal Ship has not raced since a third-place finish as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on May 30, his second start of the year. Royal Ship won the minor John Shear Stakes at a mile by five lengths at Santa Anita on April 10.
Last summer, Royal Ship was third as the 8-5 favorite in the San Diego and seventh of nine as the 5-2 second choice in the Pacific Classic, his final two starts of the year.
A 6-year-old Brazilian-bred gelding, Royal Ship has worked quickly in recent weeks for his summer debut, notably six furlongs in 1:11 at Del Mar on Tuesday.
Royal Ship was a Group 1 winner on turf in his final start in Brazil in February 2020, but has made his last six starts on dirt in California. The recent series of dirt races has played a role in Mandella’s decision to focus on the San Diego.
“It’s what he’s been doing,” Mandella said.
The San Diego is likely to have a deep field. Candidates include Country Grammer, unraced since a win in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March; There Goes Harvard, Defunded, and Stilleto Boy, who were first, second, and fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup; Express Train, who won the Santa Anita Handicap in March; and Tripoli, who won the 2021 Pacific Classic and was a troubled fourth in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf on June 19 in his first start of the year.