Coal Front gearing up for Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Coal Front, the Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner, is on course for a start in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 8 after working a half-mile in 50.28 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont training track.

With jockey Jose Ortiz up, Coal Front went his first quarter in 25.67 seconds and his final quarter in 24.61. He continued out five furlongs in 1:03.19, six furlongs in 1:15.75, and seven furlongs in 1:28.19. It was his second workout since he returned to trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn after a brief stint at WinStar Farm. Coal Front worked a half-mile in 50.88 seconds on May 3.

“We were looking to do a little more, but not crank him up just yet,” Pletcher said. “It was a good work. It was consistent with what he was doing before he went to Dubai – not real fast but if you watch he gets into that good rhythm, keeps going. I’m very happy with the way he went and the way he seems to have come back.”

Pletcher believes the horses who ran in the March 30 World Cup races at Meydan benefitted from staying in Dubai another eight or nine days before shipping back to America.

“No question,” he said. “Giving them some time to recuperate from the race before shipping helps them.”

Pletcher has not ruled out running Prince Lucky in the Met Mile. Prince Lucky, an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile on March 30, finished sixth in the Grade 3 Westchester here on May 4, a race run over a sloppy track.

Pletcher said Prince Lucky’s other poor race for him since he was gelded came in the slop last year at Pimlico.

Regarding the Met Mile for Prince Lucky, Pletcher said, “We’ll keep it in play, see how he trains.”

Vino Rosso may hit road

Vino Rosso, winner of the 2018 Wood Memorial, could be headed to Southern California for the Grade 1, $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 27, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.

Vino Rosso, a son of Curlin, won the Stymie Stakes going a one-turn mile in March, but then regressed when shortened up to seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 6. With a dearth of top-quality older horses, the Gold Cup, run at 1 1/4 miles, might be a good opportunity for Vino Rosso to win a Grade 1.

“The only thing missing on his résumé is a Grade 1,” said Pletcher, who trains Vino Rosso for Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable and Mike Repole. “With a stallion prospect like him, we want to consider every Grade 1. We’re keeping an eye on that and looking into travel logistics.”

On Thursday, Vino Rosso worked five furlongs in 1:01.25 over the Belmont training track.

Meanwhile, Marconi, winner of Thursday’s $100,000 Flat Out Stakes, will be pointed to the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational on June 8.

Marconi, a son of Tapit who brought $2 million as a yearling, won the Flat Out by 2 3/4 lengths for his second consecutive stakes win. He ran 1 3/8 miles in 2:15.35.