Royal Ship returns from lengthy layoff in Frank Y. Whiteley

Royal Ship faced the best of the best when based in Southern California.

One of the key handicapping components in Laurel Park’s Frank Y. Whiteley for 3-year-olds and up is whether Royal Ship will be at his best returning from a 259-day layoff at a seven-furlong distance that might be less than ideal.

“He needed a little break,” new trainer Graham Motion said. “To be honest, I was hoping to bring him back in an allowance, but [it] didn’t fill. Even though seven furlongs probably isn’t his optimal distance, I thought [Saturday’s Native Dancer for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles] was a lot to ask off a long layoff.”

A Group 1 winner on turf in his native Brazil and a multiple Grade 2 winner on dirt when conditioned by Richard Mandella, Royal Ship has squared off against the likes of Flightline, Country Grammer, and Senor Buscador. Those three horses alone have earned more than $32 million in purse money.

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“He’s a lovely, classy old horse,” Motion added. “My [long-term] idea is a two-turn horse on the local circuit, hopefully running in stakes.”

Royal Ship faces a solid cast in the Whiteley, one of four $100,000 stakes on Saturday’s 11-race program.

Coastal Mission, a West Virginia-bred with 11 wins from 18 starts, faced tough competition at Aqueduct in his last two races. He was bounced around badly along the rail in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile on Dec. 2 before finishing fifth.

Coastal Mission ran pretty well in the Stymie, a race contested over an extremely wet racetrack. He made a wide move into contention before flattening out.

Prince of Jericho, a multiple stakes winner at seven furlongs, returned from a summer layoff to gamely take a high-level allowance traveling 5 1/2 furlongs. That race was his first against older runners.

Twenty Four Mamba drops out of Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Tom Fool, a race where he broke very slowly and then was wired by the classy Super Chow. He earned 91 Beyer Speed Figures in his two prior starts for Charlie Baker.

Swiftsure was kicked down by Twenty Four Mamba in a high-level allowance Jan 12 at Aqueduct, but bounced back to wire similar rivals with a 92 Beyer.

“Originally, our plan was to run in the General George,” a Grade 3 on Feb. 17 at Laurel, said Swiftsure’s trainer, Horacio De Paz.

That idea was scrapped when Swiftsure was stuck in a quarantine situation in New York.

“I would think that he’ll be close or on the lead,” De Paz noted. “He’s a fast horse, but I think he’s capable of sitting off a fast pace.”

Brother Conway looms a pace factor. Union Fleet, Dontmesawithme, and Brilliant Ice also are entered.

Heavenly Cause

The broodmare Intrepid Tour foals massive horses. Multiple stakes winner Intrepid Daydream toed the Laurel scale at 1,222 pounds before winning last fall’s Politely. Three-year-old Intrepid’s Legacy entered the gate at 1,284 pounds when second in a maiden special on March 22.

Intrepid Tour’s biggest baby, however, is Intrepid Dream, who checked in at 1,355 pounds before dominating a high-level allowance last month, her first race after a 475-day vacation.

She’ll try to throw her weight around in the Heavenly Cause for fillies and mares at one mile.

Intrepid Dream has raced sparingly for trainer Gary Capuano, but she makes her starts count with five wins from six tries.

“She’s had a few issues here and there that started off in her 2-year-old year,” Capuano said. “Nothing’s been major, maybe because she’s just so doggone big. She’s worth the wait and patience to get it done because she does show up and run.”

Sweet Shild O Mine gets the class and distance test after a front-running first-level allowance victory at Fair Grounds.

“I was very impressed,” trainer Joe Sharp said. “On paper, that was a solid group. When I saw her make the front and prick her ears, I got excited because that was a tough group to run off their feet.”

Sweet Shild O Mine finished second in her lone prior route, the restricted Queen City Oaks at Belterra.

“Obviously, the stretch-out is the unknown,” Sharp said. “Based on how she’s training, and being around one-turn, I think she’ll be just fine.”

Too Many Kisses is perfect from two starts against state-sired rivals this year. Four weeks ago, she rallied from last to nail down the Conniver at seven furlongs.

Stakes winner Cats Inthe Timber can improve in her second start following a lengthy layoff. She was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by Intrepid Dream in her return but might have been pace-compromised attempting to rally from midpack.

Pistol Liz Ablazen and Doctor Abbie complete the lineup.

Native Dancer

Capuano also plays a strong hand in the Native Dancer, as Shaft’s Bullet seeks his third consecutive victory.

Shaft’s Bullet popped a career-best 99 Beyer when taking the Harrison E. Johnson at a one-turn mile on March 16.

“He ran big,” Capuano said. “He got a great trip and it really worked out. He came out of the race fine.”

Shaft’s Bullet has never gone this far, but Capuano thinks “as long as he gets a decent trip, he should be okay.”

Ideally, Capuano would like Shaft’s Bullet to be “forwardly placed. There’s enough speed in there, but I don’t think the pace is going to be that hot.”

It’s Sizzling Time has never been better. After showing off a rail-skimming stretch kick to win the John B. Campbell over course and distance, the 6-year-old gelding tried hard for second, four lengths behind Intrepid Dream in the Harrison E. Johnson.

Be Better won Laurel’s Deputed Testamony at 1 1/8 miles last year and enters off a confidence-building victory in a high-level allowance. The one-run closer usually needs pace help and a clean trip.

Magic Michael should appreciate stretching back out in distance. Vance Scholars and Ain’t Da Beer Cold round out the field along with sharp Hay Chief.

Primonetta

Kant Hurry Love was named the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Primonetta for fillies and mares at six furlongs, but her participation is in serious doubt.

“She came into season quite heavily [Wednesday] and was obviously cramping and just wasn’t happy,” trainer David Duggan said. “Nothing major, but confidence is set back about getting on a van [Friday]. We’re doing a series of blood tests on her right now.”

Disco Ebo has high speed and should appreciate turning back in distance after never getting a breather in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie. She looms a powerful pace presence.

Centre Court Champ jumps back into stakes company after winning her first two starts since being claimed out of her seasonal debut. Photo Finish, Anonymously, Beneath the Stars, and Secret Love also compete.

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