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Nadal, Storm the Court Work at Santa Anita
Author: Don Mckee
Published: Monday February
24, 2020
Nadal and Storm the Court, who ran in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), returned to the work tab Feb. 23 at Santa Anita Park. Two weeks ago, in the seven-furlong event, they finished first and fourth, respectively.
George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen's Nadal was the leading worker from Bob Baffert's barn. He worked six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 on the dirt, and he had the fastest time of 12 at the distance.
The son of Blame scored a Jan. 19 maiden special weight at Santa Anita by 3 3/4 lengths. He took another victory Feb. 9 at Santa Anita with the San Vicente by three-quarters of a length.
According to Baffert, the colt worked well and is looking at the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The Rebel is a qualifying points race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), awarding points to the first four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 scale.
Baffert had another 3-year-old making an appearance on the work tab, Gary and Mary West's West Sider. The son of Uncle Mo won his maiden on debut Feb. 2 at Santa Anita, and he worked five-furlongs in 1:00 3/5. He was ninth out of 63 at the distance.
Storm the Court and Royal Act
David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson's Storm the Court worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 with Flavien Prat on top. He is a champion 2-year-old who won the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
Royal Act, his Peter Eurton stablemate, turned in a six-furlong move of 1:12 2/5 with Abel Cedillo as jockey. Since finishing second in the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), Royal Act has worked twice. He had 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."
San Felipe Stakes and the Rebel
According to Eurton, the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) or the Rebel are possibilities for Storm the Court. The Court Vision colt is nominated to the March 7 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs as well.
"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, who finished second in the Robert B. Lewis, could head out to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the March 21 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). Eurton prefers the 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.
The San Felipe and Tampa Bay Derby also offer Kentucky Derby points on a 50-20-10-5 scale. The Louisiana Derby awards 100-40-20-10 points.
C R K Stable's maiden winner Honor A.P. also worked. Trained by John Shirreffs, the 3-year-old Honor Code ridgling last raced when he broke his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths in October. He worked seven furlongs in 1:28 1/5.