Storm the Court Completes Final Work for Arkansas Derby

Juvenile male champion Storm the Court completed major preparations for the Arkansas Derby (G1) with a quick half-mile work April 27 at Santa Anita Park. The Peter Eurton trainee worked the four furlongs on a fast main track in :47 3/5, the fourth fastest time of 41 at the distance. 

"I was pretty pleased with it. Just something short; we've been doing some longer ones and he ships tomorrow so I didn't want to do it," Eurton said. "But he looked really good getting out there stretching his legs."

Monday's exercise followed a six-furlong drill in 1:13 3/5 April 20 and a five-furlong work in 1:00 3/5 April 15. The Court Vision  colt is scheduled to fly to Oaklawn Park Tuesday morning ahead of the May 2 Arkansas Derby. 

Campaigned by David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson, Storm the Court will be making his third start of the year in the Arkansas Derby after closing out 2019 with a victory in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). He returned Feb. 9 to finish fourth in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), then finished third in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) after showing speed three wide out of the gate, then stalking the pace of the winner, Bob Baffert-trained Authentic.

"The first start he probably needed the race, I didn't really have him geared up. The last race he obviously had a bit of a wide trip because of Bob's other horse (Thousand Words), but he ran respectfully and finished third against two nice horses," Eurton said. "I'm hoping third time's the charm."

Storm the Court is entered in the second division of the Arkansas Derby and Eurton will run ERJ Racing, Exline-Border Racing, and Hudock's Shooters Shoot in the first division. Coming off an allowance victory at Oaklawn, Shooters Shoot worked a bullet five furlongs in a minute flat at the Arkansas track April 25.

"'Shooter's' doing well. He had a lovely work on Saturday with Joe (Talamo) up on him," Eurton said. "We loved the way he went and we love our draw (post 6)."

Jackpot Farm's Arkansas Derby contender Basin turned in his final work Monday. Trainer Steve Asmussen sent out the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner for a half-mile work in :51 1/5 on a fast track at Oaklawn. Basin finished third in his 3-year-old debut, the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2), and last ran fourth in the April 11 Oaklawn Stakes.

Asmussen also worked WinStar Farm, Lindy Farms, and Madaket Stables' Comical, who breezed three furlongs in :38 4/5. The 3-year-old filly is entered in Friday's Gardenia Stakes at Oaklawn.

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus worked at Belmont Park Monday toward a start in Saturday's Oaklawn Handicap (G2). The Bill Mott trainee traveled five furlongs in 1:04.19 on the fast-rated training track. He kicked off the year with a fifth-place finish in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup.