Eurton's Derby hopefuls to be one and done in major preps

Led by champion Storm the Court, trainer Peter Eurton conditions three colts who could logically qualify for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. But Triple Crown fever isn’t spreading through his barn just yet, not with the way Eurton’s planning to spot his horses this spring.

Each of Storm the Court, stakes-placed Royal Act and Exaulted — a promising maiden included in this weekend’s second Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool — will get one shot to prove themselves during the peak of the major points prep season.

“It’s too early to get super, super excited about the Derby until it’s right there,” Eurton said.

But if he’s to make it back for the second time — Eurton saddled Dance With Fate for a sixth-place finish in 2014 — he will take a different mindset to Churchill Downs.

“I didn’t really want to go there,” Eurton said, looking back on Dance With Fate, who entered off a win over synthetic in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes. “I kind of wanted to sit on him. The Preakness, I thought, would be idea. I didn’t realize what I was saying at the time.”

The Derby experience ended up a memorable one for the California-based Eurton. Looking back, though, “I was so worried and tight that I didn’t enjoy all the festivities that came along with it.”

Especially with Storm the Court, the recent Eclipse Award winner, Eurton’s prepared to enjoy the ride in this run up to the first Saturday in May. It started in earnest last Saturday when C R K Stable’s Royal Act, a maiden winner on the turf, switched to the main track and wound up just 3/4 of a length short in Santa Anita Park’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).

“He definitely exceeded my expectations,” Eurton said.

After that debut victory on Nov. 10, Royal Act, a son of American Pharoah, ran 10th over the lawn in the Eddie Logan Stakes on Dec. 29.

“He didn’t really show me the turn of foot he needed to be a good turf horse going a mile,” Eurton said. “But he’d been training so well on dirt ever since that race. So we thought it’s worth a try. If you saw any of his works on (XBTV), they were much-improved.”

Eurton will bypass the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) with Royal Act, wanting to send him 1 1/8 miles and in a major prep such as the Santa Anita Derby (G1). That type of race, with points awarded on a 100-40-20-10 basis, essentially leads to a spot in the Kentucky Derby for the winner and runner-up.

“Louisiana, Florida, New York, Oaklawn Park — there are a lot of options,” Eurton said. “Any of those are still in our bag. Then if he doesn’t make it, there are so many more dances. Once race is all we’re going to give him — one try.”

Eurton will similarly handle Storm the Court, who’s set for his 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s San Vicente Stakes (G2).

The Court Vision colt wasn’t going to be ready for the Lewis, and “he loves this racetrack,” Eurton said, so shipping wasn’t an option. As an upset Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Storm the Court also isn’t in desperate need of points, already sitting atop the leaderboard.

“I thought this would be a good steppingstone,” Eurton said of the seven-furlong San Vicente. “I think I could have him fit for a mile-and-an-eighth race if he can get the distance. That’s always the big question.”

Meanwhile, Exaulted is pointing toward a Feb. 22 maiden special weight race going a mile at Santa Anita. Had he run into just about any other horse on debut, the son of Twirling Candy might have been a winner back on Jan. 19.

Nadal, who he chased in a 3 3/4-length defeat, is already down to 10-1 to win the Kentucky Derby in Las Vegas, and trainer Bob Baffert entered him to challenge Storm the Court in the San Vicente.

“I think he finished second to a very special horse,” Eurton said, adding of Nadal, “I don’t know how far he’ll go. I know he’s a fast horse. I think it’s everyone’s guess.”

As for Exaulted, a $200,000 yearling purchase for C R K Stable, “If he does as good as we want him to do, then he’ll have one opportunity for himself.”

As is the barn's method of operation.

Storm the Court (30-1 on the morning line) and Exaulted (50-1) are both available to play in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager that runs until 6 p.m. ET Sunday, minutes before they head to the post in the San Vicente.