Storm the Court Heads Full Ohio Derby Field

David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson's Storm the Court has not won this year, but a slight drop in class might change that June 27 in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.

Still, with a full field of 15 and one also-eligible drawn for the race, the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds will not be without challenges for the Peter Eurton trainee.

Storm the Court won the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last year at Santa Anita Park after breaking his maiden on debut and then contesting two grade 1s in Southern California. In the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1), the Court Vision  colt was bumped hard and lost his rider, but he returned to place third in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) one start before the Breeders' Cup.

In 2020, however, Storm the Court has not been able to find his best stride. He placed fourth behind winner Nadal in the Feb. 9 San Vicente Stakes (G2) going seven furlongs one start before finishing third behind winner Authentic and Honor A. P. in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 7. Eurton then shipped the colt to Oaklawn Park for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby (G1), where he finished sixth May 2 in the division won by Nadal.

Storm the Court, who worked a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 June 20, will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 13. He is the 3-1 morning-line favorite.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has entered two who will most likely have a say in the outcome—Rowdy Yates and Code Runner.

Unraced since February, L and N Racing's Rowdy Yates comes into the Ohio Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Samba Saudi Derby Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. He won the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park in his season debut Jan. 26.

Though the Morning Line colt has won five of his nine starts, this will be his third attempt at breaking through the graded ranks. After breaking his maiden on debut in May 2019, he was the runner-up in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Rowdy Yates drew post 3 and will be ridden by Tyler Baze.

Calumet Farm's Code Runner contested the same division of the Arkansas Derby as Storm the Court, but finished eighth. The Honor Code  colt has won three times, breaking his maiden in December and winning an allowance March 11 at Sam Houston Race Park. He also won a June 8 allowance at Lone Star Park in his most recent start.

He will be ridden by Ricardo Feliciano from post 9.

Making a return to graded company after placing third in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) and ninth in the Nashua Stakes (G3) last year is Euro Stable's Lebda.

Trained by Claudio Gonzalez, Lebda won his two starts of 2020—the Feb. 15 Miracle Wood Stakes and March 14 Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park.

The son of Raison d'Etat  will be ridden by Alex Cintron from post 4.

Thistledown announced that patrons are welcome and management does "not anticipate exceeding (the) occupancy limit." The track also said there will be no restrictions on guests outside, and fans are welcome to watch from the grandstand. Masks are mandatory for track workers and "highly encouraged" for patrons.

Entries: Ohio Derby (G3)

Thistledown, Saturday, June 27, 2020, Race 8

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 3 yo
• 4:22 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Dean Martini (KY)	Ricardo Mejias	120	Thomas M. Amoss	20/1
2	2Rogue Element (KY)	John McKee	120	Dale L. Romans	30/1
3	3Rowdy Yates (OK)	Tyler Baze	122	Steven M. Asmussen	9/2
4	4Lebda (KY)	Alex Cintron	122	Claudio A. Gonzalez	7/2
5	5Dack Janiel's (KY)	Julie Burke	120	Jack Sisterson	15/1
6	6Sprawl (KY)	Paco Lopez	120	William I. Mott	15/1
7	7Informative (KY)	John Bisono	120	Uriah St. Lewis	12/1
8	8Bear Alley (KY)	Gerardo Corrales	120	Dale L. Romans	30/1
9	9Code Runner (KY)	Ricardo Feliciano	120	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
10	10South Bend (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	120	Stanley M. Hough	8/1
11	11Soros (KY)	Luan Machado	120	Gustavo Delgado	15/1
12	12Established (KY)	Mitchell Murrill	120	Michael Stidham	30/1
13	13Storm the Court (KY)	Flavien Prat	126	Peter Eurton	3/1
14	14Unrighteous (KY)	Deshawn L. Parker	120	Todd A. Pletcher	20/1
15	15Celtic Striker (KY)	Reylu Gutierrez	120	Raymond Handal	15/1