Coal Battle

Connections

Owner: Norman Stables LLC
Breeders: Hume Wornall & Jay Adcock
Trainer: Lonnie Briley
Jockey: Juan Vargas

Coal Battle: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Coal Battle, a 3-year-old colt by Coal Front out of Wolfblade, charges into the 2025 Kentucky Derby with an impressive streak, winning four consecutive stakes races: the Jean Lafitte Stakes (6 ½ furlongs, 1:19.80) at Delta Downs, the Remington Springboard Mile (1 mile, 1:39.16), the Smarty Jones Stakes (1 1/16 miles, 1:46.08), and the Rebel Stakes (G2) (1 1/16 miles, 1:43.04) at Oaklawn Park. Despite a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1) (1:50.04), his 95 Derby points secure his spot. With a pedigree featuring Stay Thirsty and Midshipman, Coal Battle aims for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, 2025.

Pedigree

Coal Battle
├── Sire: Coal Front
│   ├── Sire: Stay Thirsty
│   └── Dam: Miner’s Secret (by Mineshaft)
└── Dam: Wolfblade
    ├── Sire: Midshipman
    └── Dam: Venice Queen (by Latent Heat)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Coal Front
  Coal Front, a multiple graded stakes winner by Stay Thirsty, won 8 of 13 career starts, including the 2019 Godolphin Mile (G2) at 1 mile in Dubai, the 2017 Gallant Bob Stakes (G3) at 6 furlongs, and the 2019 Razorback Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. He never won a Grade 1 but showed versatility from 6 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. He currently stands for $2,000 in Louisiana after falling out of favor in Kentucky.
• Dam: Wolfblade
  Wolfblade, a West Virginia-bred by Midshipman, won 9 of 39 career starts, mostly in her home state, earning $143,465. Her most notable win was her debut on July 14, 2017, as a 2-year-old in a maiden special weight for state-bred fillies at Charles Town. She’s produced Coal Battle as her standout foal, a significant achievement given her modest racing career .

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Coal Front’s Parents (Coal Battle’s Paternal Grandparents)
  Coal Front’s sire is Stay Thirsty, as you confirmed, a son of A.P. Indy who won the 2011 Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles and was narrowly beaten in the 2011 Belmont Stakes (G1). Stay Thirsty also won the 2010 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles, showing stamina typical of A.P. Indy’s line, which includes 1992 Belmont and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner A.P. Indy himself, who appears twice in Coal Front’s pedigree. Coal Front’s dam is Miner’s Secret, by Mineshaft (another A.P. Indy son), a winning mare who adds further stamina to the lineage.
• Wolfblade’s Parents (Coal Battle’s Maternal Grandparents)
  Wolfblade’s sire is Midshipman, a 2008 American Champion 2-Year-Old by Unbridled’s Song, who won the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at 1 1/16 miles under Bob Baffert. Midshipman excelled as a juvenile, also winning the 2008 Del Mar Futurity (G1) at 7 furlongs, but his progeny often show speed more than stamina, as seen with Wolfblade’s sprinting career. Wolfblade’s dam is Venice Queen, by Latent Heat, a stakes-placed sprinter who earned her best win at 6 furlongs. Latent Heat, by Maria’s Mon (sire of Derby winners Monarchos and Super Saver), brings speed, and his dam True Flare adds a Seattle Slew cross to the pedigree.

Additional Notes on Coal Battle’s Pedigree

• Paternal Line (Coal Front): Stay Thirsty, by A.P. Indy, brings classic stamina to Coal Battle’s pedigree, with A.P. Indy appearing twice in Coal Front’s lineage. A.P. Indy’s influence as a Belmont and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner suggests Coal Battle could handle the Derby’s 1 1/4 miles, but Coal Front’s own success at shorter distances (up to 1 1/16 miles) raises questions about Coal Battle’s ability to stretch out, a concern echoed by analysts. Miner’s Secret, by Mineshaft (another A.P. Indy son), reinforces this stamina, as Mineshaft won the 2003 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at 1 1/4 miles.
• Maternal Line (Wolfblade): Midshipman’s speed as a juvenile champion (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner) aligns with Wolfblade’s sprinting career, but his progeny often lack the stamina for classic distances, as seen with Wolfblade’s modest record beyond sprints. Venice Queen, by Latent Heat, adds more speed—Latent Heat’s biggest win was the 2006 Malibu Stakes (G1) at 7 furlongs, and his sire Maria’s Mon produced Derby winners, but primarily through speed influences. However, Venice Queen’s pedigree includes Seattle Slew crosses (via Latent Heat’s dam True Flare and Midshipman’s dam Fleet Lady), which add some stamina potential, as Slew’s descendants like A.P. Indy often excel at longer distances.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: Coal Battle’s pedigree is a mix of speed and stamina, but the balance leans toward speed. Stay Thirsty and A.P. Indy provide a foundation for the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance, as Stay Thirsty’s Travers win at the same distance is a positive indicator. However, Coal Front’s success at shorter distances and Midshipman’s sprint-oriented progeny raise doubts about Coal Battle’s ability to stay the full trip, a concern noted in his profile. His maternal line, with Wolfblade and Venice Queen both excelling at shorter distances, suggests he might struggle if the Derby pace is too demanding, a potential issue we’ve seen with other speed-oriented horses like Rodriguez (April 18, 2025, 05:01).

Coal Battle’s Race Record