Coal Front headed to stakes company
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s 3-year-old arsenal now includes the ultra-impressive Coal Front, who backed up his strong maiden win at Keeneland in April with a solid 2 3/4-length victory in a first-level allowance Thursday at Belmont.
Difficult to load, Coal Front came out running under John Velazquez, attending a swift early pace, making the lead three furlongs out, and then opening up in the stretch. He covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.15 and was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.
“He was a little reluctant to load,” Pletcher said. “Other than that, I thought he ran very well.”
Pletcher said that if Coal Front trains well, he will be aimed at the Grade 3, $400,000 Dwyer, a one-turn-mile race at Belmont on July 8.
As a 2-year-old, Coal Front, a son of Stay Thirsty owned by Robert LaPenta, sustained a condylar fracture in a workout at Saratoga.
Meanwhile, Pletcher said that Army Mule, an 8 1/2-length debut winner at Belmont on April 30, is back on the farm following a setback. No timetable was given for his return to training.
Army Mule, a son of Friesan Fire who cost $825,000 at auction, earned a 91 Beyer for his debut.