Storm the Court tests turf in morning drill

DEL MAR, Calif. – The first grass work of Storm the Court’s career went so well Sunday morning at Del Mar that trainer Peter Eurton and jockey Umberto Rispoli believe a surface switch would be just fine for the 2019 champion 2-year-old male.

“Rispoli said he’s got a motor on him on the grass,” Eurton said, implying the colt showed something in the turf work that he has not shown this year on dirt. “He could have another gear on the grass. We won’t know unless we try it,” Eurton said.

Eurton emphasized that the Sunday work, which was the colt’s first on grass, was merely “to see how he went over it, and keep my options open with him.”

The workout was a half-mile in 50 seconds, outside the cones.

Storm the Court could run on grass in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 9 at Del Mar, or he could stay on dirt for either the $100,000 Shared Belief on Aug. 1 at Del Mar or Grade 3, $500,000 West Virginia Derby on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.

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Winner of the 2019 Eclipse Award as outstanding 2-year-old male following a 45-1 upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Storm the Court’s 3-year-old campaign has sputtered. Four starts this year produced a pair of thirds, including his most recent in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.

Storm the Court is by the multiple Grade 1 turf winner Court Vision, and Eurton has always wondered if Storm the Court would handle grass as well as his sire.

After the Sunday work, Eurton asked Rispoli to compare Storm the Court to impressive Runhappy Oceanside Stakes winner Hit the Road. Rispoli’s diplomatic reply: “They’re equal.”