Coal Front a hot item in Jerkens

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With only three starts on his résumé, one might assume Coal Front’s lack of experience would give trainer Todd Pletcher cause for concern when the 3-year-old puts his unblemished record on the line against eight more-seasoned rivals, including likely favorite American Anthem, in Saturday’s Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga.

But Pletcher said experience should not be an issue for Coal Front, who’ll face the biggest test of his brief career in the seven-furlong Jerkens, a race formerly known as the King’s Bishop but named in honor of the legendary Hall of Fame horseman for the first time this year.

Coal Front suffered a season-ending injury following a swift gate workout here last summer before his first start. He finally launched his career this spring at Keeneland with an eye-catching 6 1/2-length maiden win and defeated older, entry-level allowance foes in his second start at Belmont Park. He then became a graded stakes winner after recording a wire-to-wire, 1 1/2-length decision over the Travers-bound Giuseppe the Great here earlier this summer in the Grade 2 Amsterdam.

“I was actually more concerned about him, experience-wise, before his second start, when he ran against older horses,” Pletcher said. “But now he’s had three races under his belt, so he should be fine. And distance-wise, the stretch to seven furlongs shouldn’t be an issue.”

Pletcher said what concerned him most in the days leading up to the Jerkens was the post-position draw, but he came away smiling after Coal Front was assigned post 7 in the nine horse field.

“He seems to like the outside, and it looks like he’s outside most of the other speed,” Pletcher said. “American Anthem has speed as well outside him, but I don’t think he’s looking to go. This horse just needs to keep on doing what he’s been doing and keep coming forward, although obviously this is going to be his biggest test so far.”

American Anthem was part of trainer Bob Baffert’s memorable Belmont Day blitz that consisted of four stakes wins, three of which were graded. He registered an easy 3 1/4-length victory over Giuseppe the Great in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens for which he earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure. American Anthem had captured the Grade 3 Laz Barrera, also at seven furlongs, in his previous start at Santa Anita.

“I thought about the Haskell after his last win, but decided to keep him in the right direction and stay at seven furlongs, a distance at which he’s obviously been very effective,” Baffert said. “He’s doing really well, comes off a good work, and drew well on the outside. As long as he runs his race, we should be in good shape.”

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Practical Joke did try the Haskell when returning on just 22 days’ rest off his popular two-length triumph in the one-mile, Grade 3 Dwyer to finish a game third, just a half-length behind Girvin and McCraken. The Jerkens will be his first start at a distance shorter than a mile since he captured the Grade 1 Hopeful going seven furlongs here a year ago.

“I gave him a little extra time after the Haskell. He came out of the race a little tired, but he came back and worked really sharp,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Even though he did win the Hopeful at seven furlongs here last year, truth be told a one-turn mile is probably his optimum distance. This is quite a cutback for him, but there should be plenty of pace in the race, and hopefully, it will set up for him.”

Aside from Coal Front, it is likely both Takaful, a wire-to-wire allowance winner here July 21, and Phi Beta Express will force the early issue.

Tale of Silence, beaten two lengths by Practical Joke at odds of 43-1 in the Dwyer; Grade 3 Pat Day Mile winner Wild Shot; West Coast invader Ann Arbor Eddie; and the multiple graded stakes-placed No Dozing complete the field.

Key Contenders

Coal Front, by Stay Thirsty

Last 3 Beyers 105-97-87

◗ “The main thing is for Johnny [Velazquez] to let him get into a comfortable rhythm and hopefully a stalking-type position,” said Pletcher on what he felt would be the optimum trip for Coal Front.

American Anthem, by Bodemeister

Last 3 Beyers 102-98-71

◗ Although he’s been at his best from off the pace in all recent races, Baffert said he doesn’t expect the likely favorite to be that far back during the early stages of the race.

“He has a lot of speed himself,” Baffert said.

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