Storm the Court Keeps Fit With Five-Furlong Work

Exline-Border Racing, David Bernsen, Susanna Wilson, and Dan Hudock's Storm the Court looked strong during his work Jan. 5, breezing five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 at Santa Anita Park. 

"Flavien (Prat) worked him today, and we were very pleased," trainer Peter Eurton said. "It was just about as easy a five-eighths as he could go today. He's on a Sunday work pattern right now, and he hasn't missed a dance since the first half-mile for me two weeks ago. We'll come back with another five-eighths next week and keep moving forward. He's happy and healthy, and that's all we want."

Eurton said the 3-year-old son of Court Vision  is keeping fit as he makes his first tentative steps toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). With plenty of prep races offering points toward a berth on the first Saturday in May, Eurton said he's waiting for Storm the Court to tell him when the time is right. 

"We have hope of making the (Feb. 1) Robert B. Lewis (G3), but we aren't pushing it," Eurton said. "There is no urgency to make the Lewis or the (Feb. 9) San Vicente (G2) or (March 7) San Felipe (G2). I just want to get a couple good races in him before the Kentucky Derby, and that is all I really envision."

Bred in Kentucky by Stepping Stone Farm, Storm the Court was third in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita at 2. He generated Derby buzz one start later in the Nov. 1 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), where he went gate-to-wire to score by a head at odds of 45-1. The Breeders' Cup victory awarded the colt 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

"Obviously, we would want to stay home, but we aren't inclined to have to stay home—it depends on how it works out," said Eurton, who is based in Southern California. "There are plenty of spots and plenty of grade 3s. A lot of guys need a lot more points than us, so we might first head that way. Once you get into the grade 2s, that's when things start heating up, so we'd like to hit a grade 2 on his second start (of the year). The San Felipe is a good spot and the Lewis is another good spot, but I'm not sure if we will be ready or not for the Lewis."