Last year's champion juvenile colt Storm the Court (Court Vision) is on target for the May 2 GI Arkansas Derby following a five-furlong work in 1:13.60 (3/3) at Santa Anita Monday, trainer Peter Eurton confirmed. Eurton also plans to enter Shooters Shoot (Competitive Edge), winner of a one-mile allowance at Oaklawn Apr. 11, for the nine-furlong race.
“Very pleased with his work,” Eurton said of Storm the Court. “Very pleased with Shooters Shoot. I know it's going to be tough on both ends with Bob [Baffert]'s two horses, but we're willing and game.”
Baffert is pointing GII Rebel S. winner Nadal (Blame) and unbeaten Charlatan (Speightstown) for the Arkansas Derby.
Storm the Court concluded his juvenile season with an upset victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was fourth behind Nadal in the Feb. 9 GII San Vicente S. and third behind another impressive Baffert runner in Authentic (Into Mischief) in the Mar. 7 GII San Felipe S.
Of the decision to point Storm the Court to the Arkansas Derby, Eurton said, “We didn't have many other choices, to be honest with you. We had so many different options that we were going to go with, but unfortunately they're all gone the other direction.”
The Arkansas Derby was originally scheduled for Apr. 11, but was pushed back after the postponement of the GI Kentucky Derby until September.
“It kind of worked out good for me,” Eurton said. “It got the needed weight I wanted to get back on him. He's trained by himself the whole time and that really helped because he's so competitive. It keeps his metabolism a little bit lower. His weight looks really good. Is he good enough? Hey, we're going to find out. He's got the style. I think he'll like the racetrack, I really do. Seems like a speed-favoring racetrack, so looking forward to it.”
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