Storm the Court gets unexpected company in work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Storm the Court, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November, was moments from starting a five-furlong solo workout at Santa Anita on Sunday when trainer Peter Eurton described his strategy for the exercise.

Storm the Court was scheduled to work alone, leaving Eurton without expectations for a quick time in the build-up to the colt’s scheduled 2020 debut in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 9.

“It’s hard to get real serious until you put them in company,” he said.

About 30 seconds later, the workout scenario changed remarkably. Shortly after Storm the Court began the workout under jockey Flavien Prat, two horses from a rival stable loomed alongside.

Storm the Court, running on the inside, finished in company with the other runners in 1:00.60. Eurton timed Storm the Court in a slightly quicker in 1:00.20.

“Not what I was looking for,” Eurton said. “If he had been outside, I would have been fine with that.”

Eurton timed Storm the Court galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.60.

Storm the Court has not raced since his win in the BC Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles at 45-1.

Last summer, Storm the Court won his debut in a maiden special weight at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in August, but did not finish the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 1. Prat was unseated early in the race after Eight Rings collided with Storm the Court in the opening furlong.

The $200,000 San Vicente will be Storm the Court’s first start in a sprint since the Del Mar Futurity.

“It’s a perfect distance for a first-time back 3-year-old,” Eurton said. “It’s home.”

Storm the Court, by Court Vision, has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $1,172,951 for the partnership of Exline-Border Racing, David Bernsen, Susanna Wilson, and Dan Hudock.

American Theorem, unraced since a second to Eight Rings in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 27, worked three furlongs in 39.20 seconds on Sunday, his first workout since returning to serious training after a late autumn break.

“I took my time with him,” trainer George Papaprodromou said.

Owned by Kretz Racing, American Theorem was held out of the BC Juvenile after Papaprodromou said in late October that he was not happy with the ridgling’s progress at the time.