Mandella going back to dirt with Royal Ship in Californian

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.

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

Country Grammer, trained by Baffert, worked five furlongs in 59.20 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 Friday this week. Friday racing will resume April 23.

Roman Centurian gets break

Roman Centurian, who was withdrawn from consideration for the Santa Anita and Arkansas derbies this month, will be rested for 45 days and is currently in Kentucky, trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday.

Roman Centurian was flown to Kentucky last week. Earlier this year, the colt was second in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Jan. 30 and fourth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 6 at Santa Anita.

“We’ll give him a little bit of time,” Callaghan said. “He’s got a little bone bruising.”

Owned by Qatar Racing and Don Alberto Stable, Roman Centurian was scratched from the Santa Anta Derby on April 3 after Callaghan said he was unhappy with the colt’s training. The Arkansas Derby on Saturday was briefly under consideration last week.

The Callaghan-trained Maxim Rate finished fifth of six in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Keeneland on Saturday in her 2021 debut. Maxim Rate (12-1) was second early, but faded to finish six lengths behind race winner Juliet Foxtrot on a yielding turf course.

“She didn’t seem to like the soft turf,” Callaghan said.

Maxim Rate is expected to start in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 31 at Santa Anita.

“We think the timing to the Gamely will be good,” Callaghan said.

Maxim Rate won the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last October and was fifth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes in her final start of 2020 last November.

– Steve Andersen

Prat to ride Hot Rod Charlie

Hot Rod Charlie, the Louisiana Derby winner, will have Flavien Prat aboard in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, trainer Doug O’Neill said Monday.

Prat was aboard Hot Rod Charlie for a five-furlong work on Saturday at Santa Anita, accomplished in 1:01.20 for five furlongs.

Hot Rod Charlie was ridden in the Louisiana Derby by Joel Rosario, who was aboard Concert Tour for a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday.

On Monday, O’Neill said: “Both Joel and Flavien are world-class jocks. Flavien was able to commit to Charlie. We’re excited moving forward.”

Hot Rod Charlie, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has made two starts this year. He was a close third in the Robert Lewis on Jan. 30 at Santa Anita prior to the Louisiana Derby, which was run six weeks out from the Kentucky Derby.

O’Neill is a two-time winner of the Derby, with I’ll Have Another and Nyquist. Prat won the Derby via disqualification two years ago on Country House.

– Jay Privman

EMILY SHIELDS Roman Centurian was scratched from the Santa Anita Derby.