Nadal, Storm the Court Back to Work at Santa Anita

San Vicente Stakes (G2) runners Nadal and Storm the Court returned to the work tab Feb. 23 at Santa Anita Park, two weeks after finishing first and fourth, respectively, in the seven-furlong event.

George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen's Nadal led the workers from the barn of Bob Baffert. The son of Blame  worked a handy six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 on the dirt, the fastest of 12 at the distance.

Nadal first hit the radar in mid-January when he wired the field to win a Jan. 19 maiden special weight at Santa Anita by 3 3/4 lengths. He returned to the winner's circle in fine form Feb. 9 at the Southern California oval, winning the San Vicente by three-quarters of a length.

Baffert said the colt went well in Sunday's workout and would be pointed toward the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. A qualifying points race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Rebel awards 50-20-10-5 points to the first four finishers.

One other 3-year-old making an appearance on the work tab for Baffert was Gary and Mary West's West Sider, a son of Uncle Mo  who won his maiden on debut Feb. 2 at Santa Anita. The colt turned in a five-furlong move in 1:00 3/5, ninth out of 63 at the distance.

David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson's Storm the Court, named champion 2-year-old male after winning the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 with Flavien Prat in the irons.

His Peter Eurton stablemate Royal Act turned in a six-furlong move of 1:12 2/5 with Abel Cedillo aboard. It was Royal Act's second work since a runner-up finish in the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and the second-fastest time at the distance behind Nadal.

"They both worked very well. Just an easy five for 'Storm' and a little quicker for 'Royal,' a little quicker than I had thought, but they both worked very good," Eurton said. "I'm very pleased with both of them."

Eurton said the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) or the Rebel a week later are both possibilities for Storm the Court. The Court Vision  colt is also nominated to the March 7 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs.

"He came out (of the San Vicente) with more energy, I thought," Eurton said. "I really didn't push him that hard prior to the race, just put a lot of works into him but didn't really do anything overly serious. He seems to thrive on training."

C R K Stable's Royal Act, beaten less than a length in the Robert B. Lewis, could ship to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the March 21 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). Eurton said he liked the race's extended distance of 1 3/16 miles for the American Pharoah  colt.

"He's doing very well. It was a very nice breeze for him today, very much within himself, and he's doing well," Eurton said.

Like the Rebel, the San Felipe and Tampa Bay Derby offer Kentucky Derby points on a 50-20-10-5 scale. The Louisiana Derby is worth 100-40-20-10 points.

C R K Stable's touted maiden winner Honor A. P., trained by John Shirreffs, also took to the track Sunday. The 3-year-old Honor Code  ridgling has not raced since breaking his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths in October. He turned in a seven-furlong drill of 1:28 1/5.

Sadler Eyes Third Straight Big 'Cap

John Sadler will attempt to become the first trainer in 84 editions of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) to win the event three consecutive years. He'll send out Hronis Racing's defending winner Gift Box in the March 7 event. Sadler also won with Hronis' Accelerate  in 2018.

Seven other trainers have won the 'Big Cap two years in a row: Baffert, Doug O'Neill, Bobby Frankel, Richard Mandella, Charlie Whittingham, Ron McAnally, and Tom Smith.

Gift Box, a 7-year-old son of Twirling Candy , worked six furlongs in 1:13 at Santa Anita. Sadler also sent out Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing's Flagstaff for five furlongs in 1:00 4/5. Exercise rider Cerapio Figueroa was aboard for both works.

"Gift Box had a beautiful work here this morning. He went out (seven furlongs) in (1:27)," Sadler said. "Flagstaff also worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, and some of the others are working tomorrow."

Sadler has a big day planned March 7, with Flagstaff going in the San Carlos Stakes (G2), Frontier Market in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T), and Stela Star in the China Doll Stakes.

C R K Stable's Midcourt, trained by Shirreffs, is also pointing for the Santa Anita Handicap and went five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 Sunday. It was his second work since winning the Feb. 1 San Pasqual Stakes (G2).

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman's Ohio, the defending winner of the Kilroe Mile, worked five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Michael McCarthy.