Royal Ship makes Californian first U.S. graded stakes triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - The Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday was not trainer Richard Mandella’s initial goal with the Brazilian-bred gelding Royal Ship this month.

“I tried to get him in an allowance race last week,” Mandella said. “I’m glad it didn’t go.”

The $200,000 Californian Stakes was the back-up race. Royal Ship gave a milestone performance, winning his first stakes in the United States in his fifth start since arriving from South America at this time last year.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Royal Ship ($13.40) won the Californian Stakes by a neck, fighting past 7-2 Country Grammer.

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Royal Ship ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.47, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 108.

Country Grammer, the winner of the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at Saratoga last July, set the pace, with Royal Ship tracking to the outside through fractions of 23.23 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.98 for a half-mile. Royal Ship was within a half-length of Country Grammer on the turn and held a narrow advantage in early stretch.

“I thought he looked like the dominant horse when he turned for home,” Mandella said.

Country Grammer, who had his first start for trainer Bob Baffert in the Californian, finished 9 1/2 lengths clear of 3-5 favorite Independence Hall, who was third on the turn. Independence Hall was not a threat through the stretch.

Magic On Tap and Growth Engine completed the order of finish in the small field.

Royal Ship, by Midshipman, was a Group 1 winner on turf in Brazil in February 2020 and has raced primarily on that surface since joining Mandella’s stable. Royal Ship was third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf last August and last of four in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes on dirt at Del Mar last November in his start on dirt for Mandella prior to the Californian.

In his lone start this year, Royal Ship was fifth, beaten a length, in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 6.

“The other day he got shuffled back and we had too late of a run,” Mandella said of the Kilroe Mile.

Owned by Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm, Royal Ship has won 6 of 12 starts and has earned $203,305.

“We’ve been excited about him since we got him,” Mandella said. “He finally came through.”