Royal Ship Handles Surface Switch in Californian

Brazilian-bred Royal Ship  demonstrated that his ability on dirt is as good as or perhaps even better than his turf prowess April 17,  when he won the $200,000 Californian Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. He battled with Country Grammer  to take the 1 1/8-mile dirt race by a neck, as favored Independence Hall  finished third.

The Californian, a steppingstone to the May 31 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1), attracted a field of five. Royal Ship, trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella and ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, went off as the 5-1 fourth choice behind Independence Hall at 3-5.

Country Grammer broke on top and set the early pace under jockey Abel Cedillo. As the field headed into the first turn, Royal Ship raced in second, with Independence Hall and jockey Flavien Prat on the outside in third. Country Grammer completed the first quarter-mile in :23.23 and a half-mile in :46.98.

Those positions remained unchanged down the backstretch, and the trio began to draw off from Magic On Tap  and Growth Engine  heading into the second turn. Royal Ship drew alongside Country Grammer, heading him at the quarter pole, and the two commenced to put on a show during the stretch run, neither giving in to the other. 

Their duel took them well in front of the other three. At the wire, Royal Ship defeated Country Grammer by a neck in a final time of 1:48.47. It was another 9 1/2 lengths back to third-place Independence Hall.

"He really fought hard today," said Smith. "It took me a little bit to figure him out. I've been very unlucky leaving the gate with him on several different occasions. Today finally everything went our way."

Royal Ship's gameness didn't surprise Mandella, who noted that "he's trained that way."

Royal Ship ($13.40) laid closer to the early pace than he had in any of his four prior U.S. races.

"He's fast enough that he doesn't need to be taken way back and getting in trouble," said Mandella. "And he's been in trouble ever since we've gotten him. We were wanting to get out of it, and Mike did a good job."

A group 1 winner in his native Brazil on the turf, Royal Ship was making just his third start on the dirt. He ran third on the dirt in his Brazilian racing debut in 2019 and then finished fourth in the Nov. 21 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar, when he had a rough trip.

"He always has trained well on it," said Mandella. "I tried him back at Del Mar, but he fell flat on his face leaving there. I didn't have a grass race to look at here, so I thought well, let's try it again."

Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm own Royal Ship, a 5-year-old gelded son of Midshipman  —Bela Val, by Val Royal , bred by Haras Belmont. Mandella first tried Royal Ship in this country in last year's Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2T) on the turf. Royal Ship ran third that day to Mo Forza  and Restrainedvengence , and the Californian marked his first win in the U.S. He won three consecutive stakes in Brazil in 2019-20, including the Estado do Rio de Janeiro (G1) at a mile on the turf.

Mandella said he would probably look at the Gold Cup for Royal Ship's next start, though he said the Shoemaker Mile (G1T) the same day is another option.

Country Grammer , winner of the 2020 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course, was making his first start for trainer Bob Baffert. WinStar Farm purchased the 4-year-old son of Tonalist   at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for $110,000.

Independence Hall was coming off a third in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

Video: Californian S. (G2)

Also on the Saturday card at Santa Anita, Keith Abrahams' Constantia  (Munnings  ) won the $80,300 Mizdirection Stakes for trainer John Sadler and jockey Umberto Rispoli, and grade 1 winner Ce Ce  returned victorious in her seasonal debut in the seventh race, an allowance optional claimer.

Ce Ce is a 5-year-old Elusive Quality  mare, a homebred for owner Bo Hirsch that is trained by Michael McCarthy. Winner of last year's Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), she raced seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.56 under Victor Espinoza.

Saturday's race was her first since she ran fifth in last fall's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland.

To keep the Apple Blossom hype going, last year's winner Ce Ce makes her 2021 debut a winning one with a burst of speed on the rail with @VictorEspinoza at @santaanitapark! pic.twitter.com/yJuKQq9UZi

— TVG (@TVG) April 17, 2021