Storm the Court 'Chilling,' Eyes Santa Anita Return
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Storm the Court (inside) wins the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by a head at Santa Anita Park
Roughly two weeks after his 45-1 upset victory in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, Storm the Court is in good condition and tentatively pointed to return around February, trainer Peter Eurton told Del Mar publicity.
The Court Vision 2-year-old colt is "is just chilling right now," Eurton said. "We'll be tack-walking him for a little while and then get together with the owners and decide what's next. I don't think the Santa Anita stakes book has come out yet, but we'll look for something in February.
"There's no hurry. We'll let him eat well and sleep well. He's been filling out so much. Last time we weighed him, he was around 1,100 pounds."
The 2019 stakes schedule at Santa Anita was different than usual due to a closure of the track for a large portion of March following a spike in horse fatalities, but traditionally the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) is run in early February, followed by the San Felipe Stakes (G2) in early March. Both 1 1/16-mile races serve as preps for the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1), the meet's top race for 3-year-old colts, in early April.
Owned by Exline-Border Racing, David Bernsen, Susanna Wilson, and Dan Hudock, Storm the Court has won two of four races this year, all under Flavien Prat. He won his debut at Del Mar Aug. 10 and returned there in the Sept. 2 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1), only to have Prat unseated when rival Eight Rings ducked inward, losing his rider and hampering Storm the Court. Storm the Court was then a distant third in the Sept. 27 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita before his frontrunning Juvenile triumph.
Storm the Court and Flavien Prat after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita
"It was a surprise even though we were all expecting him to run a good race," Prat said. "He broke well and put me right into the race, and it turned out our way because the favorite (Dennis' Moment) stumbled from the 1 hole. From that point, I was able to control (the pace). Storm the Court showed what he had when he ran here the first time, and we were able to get the job done."