Storm the Court shortens up for 3-year-old debut in San Vicente

A mix of an old-school comeback combined with a contemporary approach to prepping for the Kentucky Derby surrounds the champion colt Storm the Court on Sunday when he makes his first start at age 3 in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.

The San Vicente drew a field of six, and came up a far tougher assignment for Storm the Court than originally expected owing to the addition of the dynamic maiden winner Nadal, who will stay home for his second start rather than go on the road just yet.

Storm the Court has not raced since his upset victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which secured him the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male of 2019. Returning from a layoff of more than three months in a seven-furlong race harkens back to the days when colts like Seattle Slew, Silver Charm, and Sunday Silence made their first start as 3-year-olds going short.

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Nyquist, winner of the 2015 Kentucky Derby, is the only 2-year-old champ since Spectacular Bid more than 40 years ago who returned in a sprint and went on to win the Derby. Trainer Peter Eurton envisions a prep schedule similar to Nyquist’s for Storm the Court, reflecting modern-day training – a sprint, a two-turn race, and then on to Churchill Downs.

“I think it’s a good spot,” said Eurton, who said having 20 points toward a Derby berth owing to the Breeders’ Cup victory gave him more options. “If we get to the Derby, I want to have a horse who’s fresh, sharp. To cram three races in I don’t think would be in his best interests. I could do it, but then by the Derby maybe I’ve got a used-up horse.”

Storm the Court won his debut sprinting last summer at Del Mar, so he can run short and run well fresh.

“I’m excited. He’s shown he can sprint,” Eurton said. “Everything being equal, if he breaks well, he should be forwardly placed.”

Flavien Prat has ridden Storm the Court in all four of his starts. He has worked Storm the Court in recent weeks, too, including in a five-furlong drill in 1:01.20 on Sunday.

“He was training well going in to the Breeders’ Cup and he’s training about the same going into this race,” Prat said.

“I thought his work last week was really good. He did it the right way.”

Despite his accomplishments, Storm the Court may not even be favored. Nadal burst onto the scene Jan. 19 with a powerful debut win, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 98, 11 points superior to Storm the Court’s career-best in the Breeders’ Cup. His trainer, Bob Baffert, had considered the Southwest on Feb. 17 at Oaklawn for Nadal, and even held out hope for a local allowance race.

“I’d have loved to have run in an allowance, but with the horse shortage that wasn’t going to happen,” Baffert said Friday morning. “The second start is so important, I’d rather keep him here.”

Baffert said Sham winner Authentic is now a possibility for the Southwest.

Four others are in the San Vicente – Cal Cup Derby winner Fast Enough, Los Alamitos maiden wnner Ra’ad, Ginobili, and Party Town.

The San Vicente is race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 12:30 Pacific.