Champion Storm the Court Pointed to Kentucky Derby

As it has since 2015, this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) might include the previous year's champion 2-year-old male.

Storm the Court, whose 45-1 upset in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall at Santa Anita Park propelled him to a championship, is being pointed toward the Sept. 5 classic by trainer Peter Eurton. The colt, winless in five starts since the Breeders' Cup, comes off a second in the Aug. 9 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar in his first start on grass.

"If he trains really well and his works, if we are pleased by them—we like the way he goes—I think everybody wants to go to the Kentucky Derby," Eurton said.

The son of Court Vision  is owned by David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson.

Since 2015, 2-year-old champions are 2-for-5 in the Derby. American Pharoah  and Nyquist  won in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Classic Empire  ran fourth in 2017, Good Magic  was second in 2018, and Game Winner was elevated to fifth last year after the disqualification of Maximum Security.

Although Storm the Court didn't earn any Derby qualifying points in the La Jolla, which, like other turf races, is not an official qualifier, the colt had already secured enough points to gain entrance. His win in the Juvenile and minor awards in other stakes this spring and summer left him with 36 points, ranking 17th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. 

Storm the Court, a projected Derby longshot, was fourth in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), third in both the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and the Ohio Derby (G3), and sixth in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) that was won by Nadal. 

Eurton said regular rider Flavien Prat is his first choice to ride Storm the Court, but Prat's agent, Derek Lawson, said Friday the rider may stay in California rather than bypass the tail end of the Del Mar meet, which continues until Sept. 7.

Churchill Downs has mandated that out-of-state jockeys arrive in Kentucky by Aug. 31.

"It's kind of a waiting game to see what's going on," Lawson said by telephone from California. "I haven't sat down with Flavien and said, 'This is what we got,' and go from there. But if I was a betting guy, I'd say we're probably going to stay here."

Eurton said if Storm the Court heads to Kentucky, he would do so on a flight Sept. 1. The trainer said he is still awaiting an announcement from Churchill Downs regarding its travel rules for trainers, staff, and owners.

During Derby week, the track is expected to reduce backside access to owners as a safety measure due to COVID-19. The Derby is one of the few major sporting events this summer allowing thousands of fans, though reserved seating is at 40% capacity. The track said attendance could reach 23,000.

Despite the return to dirt, Eurton eventually wants to try Storm the Court again on turf, encouraged by how he ran while beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Smooth Like Strait in the La Jolla, the customary prep for the Del Mar Derby (G2T). The $200,000 Del Mar Derby is Sept. 6.