Royal Ship will try dirt again in Californian Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Royal Ship was being walked in the paddock after a half-mile workout early Sunday morning when the banter began between Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith atop the 5-year-old gelding and Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who was watching from the rail.

No one was in a hurry, particularly Smith, who was cooling out the Brazilian-bred.

“Should I walk him around one more time, Mr. Mandella?” the 55-year-old Smith asked.

“Yes, I think you need the experience,” Mandella cracked.

Royal Ship was timed in 47.80 seconds in advance of his first start on dirt this year in Saturday’s Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. The $200,000 Californian Stakes will be a second attempt on dirt for Royal Ship, a Group 1 winner on turf in Brazil in February 2020.

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Royal Ship joined Mandella’s stable after that race, and is winless in four starts at Del Mar and Santa Anita. His best result in that span was a third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf last August.

Last November, Royal Ship was last of four after a poor start in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Del Mar.

In his lone start this year, Royal Ship was fifth of 10, beaten a length at 25-1, in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 6.

Mandella was not satisfied with that result. Royal Ship was eighth with a quarter-mile remaining and closed to be nearest the front at the wire.

“He should have been right there,” Mandella said. “He never got into the race until the top of the stretch.

“I’d like to win a race with him.”

The Californian is a suitable test for Royal Ship, which lacks a prominent older runner. The race will not include the first two finishers of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 6. Race winner Idol is a candidate for the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on May 31. Express Train, who led to deep stretch in the Big Cap, is scheduled to start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas, a $1 million race at 1 1/8 miles.

The probable starters for the Californian include Country Grammer, Growth Engine, Independence Hall, and Magic On Tap.

Roadster, fourth in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds on March 20 in his first start in 54 weeks, is under consideration for the Californian or the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on April 30, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Country Grammer, trained by Baffert, worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on Sunday. Country Grammer was previously trained by Chad Brown, and has not started since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga last August. Country Grammer won the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at Saratoga last July, his lone stakes win.

The Californian is the most prestigious of four stakes on a two-day racing week at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday. There is no racing on Friday this week. Friday racing will resume on April 23.