Courtesy of the Blood Horse
COAL FRONT was a $575,000 OBS Sales grad for Kirkwood
Chad B. Harmon
The connections and fans of Coal Front experienced the sport’s highs and lows this weekend.
Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners’ Coal Front scored a front-end victory in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G3) Sept. 23 at Parx Racing, an effort that saw the 3-year-old sprinter earn the week’s top Equibase Speed Figure of 118.
But after the race trainer Todd Pletcher announced that the Stay Thirsty colt had suffered a condylar fracture in his right front. The connections are optimistic Coal Front can come back from the injury.
As for the race, Coal Front and jockey John Velazquez powered through a quarter-mile in :22.51 and half-mile in :45.21 then completed the final two furlongs in :23.73. In the stretch, Coal Front resisted a challenge from American Pastime, who pulled to within a head of the lead in midstretch. American Pastime would finish a half-length back in second, earning the week’s second-fastest ESF, 117.
Coal Front improves to four wins in five starts and secured his second graded stakes win. He has earned triple-digit ESFs in all of his races and the 118 is a career best.
In his career debut Coal Front registered a 106 in winning a six-furlong maiden race in April at Keeneland. In his third start and stakes debut, he was awarded a 111 for his front-running victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam Stakes (G2) July 29 at Saratoga Race Course.
Top 10 Equibase Speed Figures Since Sep. 19
| ESF | Horse Race, Track, Distance, Date |
Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | Coal Front Gallant Bob S. (G3), PRX, 6f, 9/23 |
1 |
| 117 | American Pastime Gallant Bob S. (G3), PRX, 6f, 9/23 |
2 |
| 116 | Mesoma AOC, CD, 6.5f, 9/24 |
1 |
| 115 | West Coast Pennsylvania Derby (G1), PRX, 9f, 9/23 |
1 |
| 114 | Manitoulin AOC, BEL, 10fT, 9/20 |
1 |
| 114 | Sharp Azteca Kelso H. (G2), BEL, 8f, 9/23 |
1 |
| 113 | Hey Jabber Jaw AOC, BEL, 6f, 9/21 |
1 |
| 112 | Ostrolenka AOC, BEL, 6f, 9/21 |
2 |
| 111 | Iron Fist Governor’s Cup S., RP, 9f, 9/24 |
1 |
| 111 | Mike Man’s Gold STR, EMD, 6f, 9/23 |
1 |
| 111 | Red Rifle AOC, BEL, 10fT, 9/20 |
2 |
| 111 | Angry Moon AOC, BEL, 6f, 9/21 |
3 |