Storm the Court headed to $500,000 Ohio Derby on June 27

Storm the Court, the champion 2-year-old male of 2019 who is winless in three starts this year, will have his next start in the Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 27, trainer Peter Eurton said on Sunday.

Eurton said the $500,000 purse of the 1 1/8-mile Ohio Derby was a deciding factor, compared to the $150,000 purse of the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on July 4 or the competition in Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

“Money is a big thing,” Eurton said. “I think it will be easier than the Belmont and probably easier than what Bob [Baffert] decides to throw in” the Los Alamitos Derby.

Baffert said on Sunday he has not finalized his runners for the Los Alamitos Derby.

Storm the Court won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in a 45-1 upset at Santa Anita last November. Earlier this year, Storm the Court was fourth in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes in February and third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes in March, both at Santa Anita, and sixth in a division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on May 2.

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“We haven’t had a win, but he’s not overraced,” Eurton said.

Eurton said Storm the Court will race without blinkers in the Ohio Derby for the first time since a third in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita last September.

“We’ll take the shades off of him,” Eurton said. “He’s matured enough now.”

Storm the Court worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 on June 6 and six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Saturday at Santa Anita with leading rider Flavien Prat aboard.

“Flavien doesn’t have a lot to say, but he thinks the last two works were the best he’s had in ages,” Eurton said.