A 7-year-old gelding that trainer Mike Mitchell claimed for $40,000 last May on behalf of Michael House, Delta Storm drew the outside post among six entrants in the 4th running of the Kangaroo Court that is contested over 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.
With Aaron Gryder having earned a return riding assignment, the Kentucky-bred son of Storm Boot was elevated to Grade I competition and finished a good fourth in Oak Tree’s six-furlong Ancient Title Stakes after dueling for the lead into the stretch.
He returns to grass with Gryder back aboard on Monday. Delta Storm has posted a 4-2-0 record in nine races on turf while his overall record is 9-5-1 in 24 starts for earnings of $284,688.
His competition includes Jon and Sarah Kelly’s Kruger Park, who fancies Santa Anita’s downhill layout. In four starts over the course, he has never been more than three-quarters of a length away at the wire while winning once. Garrett Gomez rides the Patrick Gallagher trainee whose career record is 3-2-1 in 10 starts for earnings of $129,400.
The complete field for the Kangaroo Court, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Railroad, Joseph Talamo, 119; Majestic Stream, Jon Court, 119; Hurry Up Austin, Michael Martinez, 121; Bad Boy, Martin Pedroza, 121; Kruger Park, Garrett Gomez, 119, and Delta Storm, Aaron Gryder, 124.
As a promotional attraction on the holiday, Oak Tree is offering Dollar Day with a charge of $1 for general admission, programs, hot dogs, beer, soft drinks and popcorn.
