Coal Front Returns in Bold Ruler

[Wandering Eyes]

Bob LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners’ ‘TDN Rising Star’ Coal Front (Stay Thirsty) staked his claim as a sprinter with a future with a pair of graded stakes victories at three in 2017. Unfortunately, that future had to be put on hold, as the $575,000 OBS April buy has been unseen for over 13 months, but he reopens his account as the favorite in Saturday’s GIII Bold Ruler H. at Belmont.

Romping by 6 1/2 lengths first out last spring at Keeneland, the dark bay repeated in a local allowance before annexing the GII Amsterdam S. wire-to-wire at Saratoga. Disappointing when fifth in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. next, he bounced back with a career-high 107 Beyer when taking the GIII Gallant Bob S. at Parx. Stabled at Saratoga through the summer, the Todd Pletcher trainee shipped down to drill five furlongs over the local main in 1:00 1/5 (2/10) Oct. 20.

Lael Stables’ No Dozing (Union Rags) looks for his first graded success after continuously knocking on the door going back to his juvenile season two years back. Second in the GII Remsen S., he was third in the GIII Lexington S. and runner-up in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. last spring before capturing the Concern S. in July at Laurel. Off the board in his final three outings as a sophomore, he returned as a new gelding this summer at Saratoga and upset a high-priced optional claimer there July 21. Since then, the bay has been fifth in the GI Forego S. and fourth in the local GII Kelso H.

Stronach Stables’ Delta Prince (Street Cry {Ire}) returns to dirt for the first time in nearly two years. Third in his unveiling here two Octobers ago, he was runner-up going a main track mile next out at Aqueduct before breaking his maiden powerfully over the Gulfstream turf to earn ‘Rising Star’ honors. That effort was good enough to keep the half-brother to three-time champion Royal Delta (Empire Maker) on the lawn, where he earned his first graded stakes tally in the GII King Edward S. June 30 at Woodbine. Just missing by a neck when second in the GI Fourstardave H. next out at Saratoga Aug. 11, he most recently checked in fourth as the favorite in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile S. Sept. 15. The homebred adds blinkers here and worked a bullet half-mile in :47 2/5 (1/40) over the local training track Oct. 22.

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