Nadal, Storm the Court among notable names on Sunday work tab

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2019 juvenile champion Storm the Court, the unbeaten stakes winner Nadal, the promising 3-year-olds Honor A. P. and Royal Act, and the top older horses Gift Box and Midcourt were among prominent workers at Santa Anita on Sunday.

All are scheduled to start in stakes in coming weeks.

Nadal worked six furlongs in 1:11.80, his first workout since a win in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs in his stakes debut on Feb. 9. The time was the fastest of 12 recorded works at the distance.

“He always works great,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Nadal is scheduled to start in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on March 14, a key prep to the Triple Crown.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Storm the Court, fourth in the San Vicente in his first start of the year, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 in company with a stablemate.

“They went off slow and he finished good,” trainer Peter Eurton said.

Storm the Court was the champion 2-year-old male of 2019 on the strength of his upset win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here last November. Eurton said races such as the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 7, the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7, and the Rebel Stakes are under consideration.

Royal Act, second to Thousand Words in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 1, worked six furlongs in 1:12.40. Eurton said Royal Act is a candidate for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at 1 3/16 miles at Fair Grounds on March 21.

“I like the distance,” Eurton said.

Royal Act worked in company with stablemate Draft Pick, who is a possible starter in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at 1 1/8 miles on March 21.

Honor A. P. has not raced since an impressive win in a maiden special weight race at 1 1/16 miles here in October in his second career start. Sunday, Honor A. P. worked seven furlongs in 1:28.20 for his 3-year-old debut in the $400,000 San Felipe. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was aboard.

“We’re getting some air in him and a good seven-eighths will get a horse fit,” said Smith.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Honor A. P. was scheduled to start in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile here on Jan. 4, but missed the race because of a training setback.

Gift Box, who won the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 28, and Midcourt, who won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Feb. 1, are the leading contenders for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 7. The $600,000 Big Cap is the leading race of the winter-spring meeting for older horses.

Gift Box worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Sunday. Trainer John Sadler timed Gift Box galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27.

Midcourt worked five furlongs in 1:01.40. A 5-year-old gelding, Midcourt led throughout the San Pasqual at 1 1-8 miles to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

“He’s happy and wants to train,” Shirreffs said. “That’s a big thing.”

Ohio, the multiple stakes winner, worked five furlongs in 1:02 for a possible start in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 7, a race he won in 2019.