Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farms royal ship stayed close to the leaders at the back, then when Hall of Famer Mike Smith let him roll as he approached the far corner, the 6-year-old Brazilian horse found another gear and ran off down the stretch to take a 2 1/4 length victory. in the 81st $302,000 race San Diego Handicap in Del Mar on Saturday.
The veteran gelding acted like a lad taking home a $180,000 prize in the Grade 2 event by finishing 1 1/16 mile in 1:42.75. He paid $21.00 for the win and pushed his career earnings to $570,405.
“I wasn’t going to take anything away from him today. If he wanted to go, he could go,” Smith said. “He was rolling over on his back and going on.
Royal Ship, by Del Mar Futurity winner Midshipman in 2008, is trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, although the conditioner was not on the track for the festivities today. He was nursing a case of COVID at home, but his stable was in the able hands of his son, Gary, a one-man trainer who has certainly won his share of races.
“I hope this win helps Mr. Mandella feel better,” Smith said. “He and his son get all the credit with this horse.”
The Del Mar ad noted that Gary Mandella ran his father’s barn, which is recovering at home, “for most of the past week.
“We will take advantage of it and plan the next race after that; it’s a good one and we’re going to enjoy it for a while,” Gary Mandella said. “He (Smith) had a lot of horses under him and he’s keeping the favorite in his sights. That’s what makes Mike great, he made all the right choices, put the horse in the position where he could win and did it.
Finishing second was 2-1 favorite Commonwealth Thoroughreds, Winstar Farm and Country Grammer of Zedan Racing Stables, who were 4 1/4 lengths ahead of third-placed Stilleto Boy, owned by Steve Moger.
Royal Ship returned $21.00.
For the sixth consecutive afternoon, the track’s Pick Six Single Ticket Jackpot bet was unresolved and its carry increased to $393,249. That will be in the pot when racing resumes at 5 p.m. EDT on Sunday.
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