Move over Bob Baffert and save a seat for Lonnie Briley on the train to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Coal Battle led from the break and kicked away for a four-length victory in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, giving Briley a contender for what would be his first Derby.
Coal Battle. Coady Photo.
Coal Battle could give veteran Briley a first Derby starter after Smarty Jones win
“It’s crazy,’’ Briley said as he begins his 35th year as a trainer after a career best year in 2024. “I didn’t expect him to go in front all the way around.”
But that’s exactly how the race unfolded as Coal Battle broke sharp from the outside post in the field of six and wouldn’t give an inch to the likes of 6-5 favorite Kale’s Angel or 3-1 second choice Mo Quality.
Ridden by Juan Vargas, the 3-year-old son of Coal Front won for the third time in a row, all three in stakes races, and all at different tracks.
Coal Battle, sent off at 9-2, picked up 10 more Derby points in the 1 1/16-mile race that awarded 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers. Coal Battle, winner of the Springboard Mile last out for his first 10 Derby points, now sits second on the points leaderboard with 20.
Six-time Derby winner Baffert, who already has the current leader in Citizen Bull (40), also has Gaming third (18) and Getaway Car third (16).
Briley, meanwhile, is still seeking the first graded stakes victory of his career, which began in 1991. A year ago, he topped $1 million in earnings for the first time, and now he just may have himself a legitimate shot at the Derby.
“Today, he went to the front and was pricking his ears. When he stayed up there, I’m thinking: ‘I’m going to steal it, jockey.’ He ran big, big,’’ Briley said. “Every time we run him, he just seems to surprise us. He’s a neat little horse. I don’t know if it’s set in yet [having a Kentucky Derby candidate]. No, it’s crazy for the little guy.”
For those who bet horse racing, Coal Battle returned $11 to win and earned $146,250 for Norman Stables. Mo Quality was second, a neck in front of favorite Kale’s Angel. Bon Temps was fourth, followed by 2-1 second choice Hot Property, and Hot Gunner.
Curvino and Optical were scratched. Winning time was 1:46.43.