Fox Hill Farms downsizing after owner Rick Porter’s death in 2021, keeping only a limited number of horses for training, among them Royal Ship a share winner is classified as a co-owner with Siena Farm.
Royal Ship continues to represent Fox Hill Farms well, especially on July 30 at Del Marwhere this 6-year-old flipped the $302,000 San Diego (G2) handicap by overtaking the Dubai World Cup winner sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) Country Grammer equal to 2 1/4 of the length.
The win was his second in three races this year, following his victory in the John Shear Stakes at Santa Anita . Park in April, with third place in the May 30 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) bets between scores.
Congratulations Royal Ship @Fox_Hill_Farm @ mikeesmith10 @MandellaGary from John Shear Mile to San Diego Handicap 😊
– John Shear (@SApaddock) July 31, 2022
Though the veteran campaigner has run some top races, winning Group 1 in his native Brazil and claiming the 2021 California Stakes (G2) championship against Country Grammer in Santa Anita, San Diego Saturday’s performance was arguably the best performance of his 18-race career. . He beat the 1st grade winners in Country Grammer, Mandaloun and There Goes Harvard relatively easy.
Wide and seventh in the first of two turns, he overtakes opponents to fourth when entering the following spin while Refunded set quarter mile open at: 23.71, chase Stilleto boy and Country Grammer.
Abel Cedillo on Defunded managed to open some sort of breathing room with a half-mile rate at: 47.44, forcing riders Juan Hernandez on Stiletto Boy and John Velazquez on Country Grammer to urge their mounts to keep up.
But Mike Smith on the Royal Ship wasn’t working nearly as hard, and with a four-way wide header, after a split that lasted six times in 1:11.19, the Royal Ship set sail. He opened up in the interval and won comfortably while looking idle late.
“I’m not going to take anything from him today,” Smith said. “If he wants to go, he can go. He’s rolling in the back and just keeps going.”
The son of Shipman race 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.75, paying $21 on a $2 bet.
Smith and coach Richard Mandella, both Hall of Famers, each recorded their second win in San Diego. Smith previously drove the winning Kentucky Derby 2005 Giacomo to win the race for coach John Shirreffs. Gary Stevens won Mandella’s 2015 San Diego, Catch a flight .
Mandella’s son, Gary, presented the victory to his father, who is at home recovering from COVID-19. Gary has been running more consistently over the past week.
Favored Country Grammer, making its first appearance in more than four months, battled Saturday for a clear second place, 4/4 of the length ahead of Stilleto Boy in third.
The 2021 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) Mandaloun rose slightly in fourth after he was mixed up in traffic pulling jockey Florent Geroux into the first turn.
Fatigue failure to Saturday.
Bred by Haras Belmont in Brazil, Royal Ship out of Val Royal mare Bela Val who also created graded winners in Brazil in Royal Forestry (forestry ) and King Four (Syphon (BRZ .) ). Royal Ship is her top earner, earning $570,405 from eight wins, two seconds and four thirds.
San Diego serves as Del Mar’s preparation for the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (G1) of the oceanfront track at 1 1/4 mile on September 3. Royal Ship runs seventh in the Pacific. Classic 2021.
“We’re going to enjoy this and find out the next race after that; this is a good one, and we’re going to enjoy it for a while,” said Gary Mandella.
Video: San Diego H. (G2)
