Storm the Court, Nadal, and Charlatan work for Arkansas Derby

After several days of rain that forced postponement of workouts, three California-based runners with designs on the Arkansas Derby all got in significant drills Wednesday morning at Santa Anita.

Charlatan went six furlongs in 1:12.20, while five-furlong works were recorded by Nadal (59.80 seconds) and champion Storm the Court (1:00.60). All three are pointing to the Grade 1, $750,000 Arkansas Derby on May 2 at Oaklawn Park, a race that offers 170 points overall, with 100 to the winner, for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.

Peter Eurton, who trains Storm the Court, said he ideally wanted to work Storm the Court twice more, every six days, before heading to Oaklawn.

“It’s a little cramming, but he’s pretty fit,” Eurton said. Storm the Court most recently was third in the San Felipe.

Eurton also is desirous of running stablemate Shooters Shoot in the Arkansas Derby following a victory in an allowance race last Saturday at Oaklawn.

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“Pretty proud of him,” said Eurton, who said he’s concerned that unless the race splits, Shooters Shoot might be excluded.

Bob Baffert also is hoping to double up in the Arkansas Derby with Charlatan and Nadal, both of whom are unbeaten. Nadal won the Rebel at Oaklawn last month. Charlatan has yet to run in a stakes race, and like Shooters Shoot could be in a precarious spot if the race has a large field and doesn’t split.

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One California-based horse who won’t be going to Arkansas is Honor A. P., who was second in the San Felipe. His trainer, John Shirreffs, said he does not want to travel at the moment with Honor A. P. He’s also hoping Santa Anita, where racing currently is suspended, can get the green light to resume racing in time for the Santa Anita Derby, originally scheduled for April 4, to be run well before Santa Anita’s scheduled closing day June 21.

Also taking a pass on the Arkansas Derby is Sole Volante. His trainer, Patrick Biancone, said owing to Sole Volante’s ability on turf, something like the Belmont Derby could be in play in the near term if and when racing resumes in New York. He said the next major goal for his other top Derby prospect, Ete Indien, is the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in July.

Among those still under consideration for the Arkansas Derby are King Guillermo, Gouverneur Morris, and Wells Bayou, all of whom turned in works in recent days.

At Gulfstream Park on Wednesday, King Guillermo got down to serious business, working six furlongs in 1:13.70. He finished up with good energy without being prodded at any point to the wire, then galloped out an additional quarter-mile into and around the clubhouse turn, easing up after a full mile in 1:41.62. The work was just the second for King Guillermo since his easy 4 3/4-length upset victory in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.

“Very nice, it was perfect,” trainer Juan Avila said. “He came back to the barn in perfect condition. We’re fine right now. He’ll work a half-mile here next Wednesday and then ship to Oaklawn later that afternoon.”

Avila said Samy Camacho, who guided King Guillermo to victory in the Tampa Bay Derby, will retain the mount in the Arkansas Derby.

Under current rules set down by Gulfstream management as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, King Guillermo must quarantine for 14 days at a facility in Florida other than Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream Park West, or the Palm Meadows training center before being allowed to return to Avila’s barn at Gulfstream after he competes in the Arkansas Derby.

Gouverneur Morris, fourth most recently in the Florida Derby, went a half-mile in 49.50 on Saturday at the Palm Beach Downs training center, with the usual strong gallop-out trainer Todd Pletcher desires.

“Nice breeze, came out of it with good energy,” Pletcher said. “He’ll work again Saturday.”

Wells Bayou, the Louisiana Derby winner, has trained regularly all winter at Oaklawn, where on Monday he went a half-mile in 48.40.

Brad Cox, who trains Wells Bayou, said the Arkansas Derby was a “possibility.”

“Just want to see how things unfold, how the race comes up,” Cox said. “He’ll have two more works before we need to decide.”

In other Derby developments:

◗ Tiz the Law, the Florida Derby winner, had an easy drill last Saturday at Palm Meadows, going a half-mile in 52.80 for trainer Barclay Tagg.

◗ Maxfield, yet to start this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, got back on the work tab Saturday at Keeneland when he went a half-mile in 49.20, his first drill since March 14.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch