Juvenile Winner Storm the Court Nears Breeze

Storm the Court, the upset winner of the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1, is scheduled to breeze Dec. 22 at Santa Anita Park, his first workout since the Juvenile, in which he thrust himself firmly in the mix for an Eclipse Award as outstanding 2-year-old male.

"He'll probably work four furlongs," said trainer Peter Eurton. The bay son of Court Vision  who, depending on weather, could embark on the Triple Crown trail in February or March.

With the division seemingly wide open, Eurton and Storm the Court's connections are optimistic about the colt's chances of being named champion when honors are announced at the 49th annual Eclipse Awards dinner Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

"We're hoping for the best, plus all the horses that came out of the Juvenile have done well," Eurton said. "We're going to show up for the awards, enjoy the day, and hope things go our way. Right now, it looks like he's going to start back (to the races) in February, but if he doesn't make it because of the weather, we'll wait until March. We have lots of options."

Stakes options at Santa Anita for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) hopeful owned by Exline-Border Racing, David Bernsen, Susanna Wilson, and Dan Hudock include the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2). Both are leading prep races for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Months before Storm the Court returns at Santa Anita, the track kicks off opening day of its winter/spring meet Dec. 26 with a couple of $300,000 top-tier stakes: the Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) and La Brea Stakes (G1).

Bellafina, who put her vaunted speed on the back burner while finishing a game second to probable Eclipse Award winner Covfefe in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), worked four furlongs Dec. 20 in :47 1/5 for the La Brea Stakes, one of five added-money races on the program as Santa Anita begins its 83rd season of racing.

"I got her in :46 and four, cruising," said Simon Callaghan, who trains the bay daughter of Quality Road  for Kaleem Shah.

Jockey Brice Blanc was aboard for the drill, but regular rider Flavien Prat will be up again in the La Brea.

"Hopefully, we'll have a good year with her," Callaghan said. "After the La Brea, we'll give her a little time and wait for Keeneland in April. I think we'll have a fun rivalry with Covfefe going forward."

Entries for opening day will be taken Dec. 21.

The Malibu is expected to draw Omaha Beach , one of the top 3-year-olds in the country, plus a couple from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert: Much Better and Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster.

The two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer is the first to admit he'll have to beat Omaha Beach to get the money, even though both his runners have shown an affinity for the seven-furlong distance of the Malibu, which Baffert won last year with McKinzie, in 2013 with Shakin It Up , and in 2011 with The Factor .

"I'd be OK with them going seven-eighths if Omaha Beach wasn't in there," Baffert said. "A horse that looks good, too, is Complexity."

The latter has won three of five starts for trainer Chad Brown and is scheduled to work Saturday at Santa Anita.

The Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes (G2) is a race targeted by trainer John Sadler with Gift Box, who won the race last year. Joel Rosario will ride the son of Twirling Candy , who worked five furlongs Friday in 1:00 1/5.

Gift Box defeated McKinzie by a nose in the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1) in April. He then ran second behind Vino Rosso in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) and fourth in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, after which he went to the sidelines.

Rosario is booked to ride Mother Mother in the La Brea, Mucho Unusual in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes on opening day, and Encoder in the Dec. 27 Eddie Logan Stakes, agent Ron Anderson told Santa Anita publicity. Mother Mother worked six furlongs Friday in a bullet 1:12 4/5, and Encoder worked five furlongs in 1:01 4/5.