Coal Front sticks with the program in Amsterdam

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Coal Front certainly has the breeding to go a route of ground. But after two emphatic sprint victories by the 3-year-old colt, trainer Todd Pletcher is keeping things simple for his stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.

The Amsterdam, run at 6 1/2 furlongs, is one of four stakes on an 11-race program topped by the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

Coal Front is a son of Travers winner Stay Thirsty and out of the Mineshaft mare Miner’s Secret. Coal Front won his debut going six furlongs by 6 1/2 lengths at Keeneland on April 20. He came back to win a first-level allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs by 2 3/4 lengths at Belmont on June 8.

“Coal Front is a big, solid, powerfully made horse with a lot of natural ability, a lot of natural speed,” Pletcher said. “Ultimately, I’m thinking he will stretch out. Right now, we just felt like sticking with what we know he’s already been successful at in trying to step up into stakes company.”

Only six horses entered the Amsterdam, and Mo Cash, based in south Florida, is the only stakes winner. He won his first three starts, including the Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, before finishing second in the Big Drama at Gulfstream and second, beaten a neck by Three Rules, in the Grade 3 Carry Back at Gulfstream on July 1.

In the Carry Back, Mo Cash set the pace, something he hadn’t done in his previous races.

“He’s always sat and stalked,” said trainer Ronald Spatz, who is running his first horse at Saratoga. “I said, ‘Oh shoot, that’s it for us. What are we doing on the lead?’ I guess he’s more versatile than I gave him credit for.”

Jose Ortiz has the call from post 3.

Singing Bullet, Aquamarine, Excitations, and Toga Challenger complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Coal Front, by Stay Thirsty

Beyers: 97-87

◗ He beat older horses in both of his starts.

“He’s run two very good races, trained very well since then, looking forward to trying the Amsterdam,” Pletcher said. “He seems to be doing really well at the moment.”

Mo Cash, by Adios Charlie

Last 3 Beyers: 92-91-80

◗ Has yet to run a bad race, and he acquitted himself well against the multiple stakes winner Three Rules in the Carry Back, finishing eight lengths clear of the third-place finisher.

“Every race he’s run, he’s improved numbers-wise, and I’m not a big numbers guy,” Spatz said. “I was very impressed with his last race. He’s gotten better and better with each race. He’s got to keep improving to step up into this competition.”

Toga Challenger, by Successful Appeal

Last 3 Beyers: 92-86-84

◗ Claimed out of a winning debut by trainer Rudy Rodriguez for owners Michael Dubb and David Simon.

◗ After two losses, Toga Challenger has gone 2 for 2 with the addition of blinkers. Rodriguez said that when Toga Challenger was beaten a neck in his first race for him, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. told him, “He didn’t want to go by the other horse,” but Rodriguez didn’t add blinkers until two races later.

◗ Drawn nicely in post 6.