Not many horses win from post 14 at Oaklawn Park. Few get the chance.
Coal Front set the standard in Monday's 60th running of the Grade 3 $500,000 Razorback Handicap.
Off for two months, a stranger in a strange land and marooned in an outside post, Coal Front had every reason to stumble. To think he did all that, as Frank Sinatra might say, in the first two-turn effort of his career exemplified horse racing at its highest level.
Ridden with assurance by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty won by a neck over Copper Bullet with Rated R Superstar a length and a quarter back in third at 79-1.
Velazquez put his mount into the race early, content to lay second down the backstretch until asking for more on the far turn. Trainer Todd Pletcher, watching in Florida, could not have asked for more.
"We were a little concerned when we saw the post," said Pletcher by phone, "but the real key to his success today was getting away cleanly and getting a good position going into the turn. Had to go a little quick to get to the first turn, but turning up the backside he relaxed nicely."
Said Velazquez: "He broke sharp and then I was able to give him a little break to get him off somebody. It worked out perfect."
With one of the sport's greatest finishers aboard, Coal Front won for the sixth time in eight well-spaced starts. A multiple graded winner sprinting, the ridgling has bankrolled $777,280 after $300,000 from the Razorback.
Coal Front, the 6-5 favorite, paid $4.60, $4 and $3.20, carrying 120 pounds over a fast-rated mile and sixteenth in 1:43.45.
Copper Bullet, a Grade 2 winner for Steve Asmussen, was equally gallant in only his third start in 20 months. The 5-year-old son of More Than Ready broke from the rail and moved out for the drive but not in time to catch Coal Front.
"Perfect trip," said jockey Jose Ortiz. The winner, he said, is "very impressive."
Rated R Superstar rocked the toteboard in his second start this year over a track he has won. Sonneteer, last year's Fifth Season winner at Oaklawn for Keith Desormeaux, was fourth of 14.
Bayakoa Stakes
Earlier, She's a Julie ($4.80) represented trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.'s fourth winner on the card in the Grade 3 $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes.
"She ran a good race," Santana said. "That filly, she's always loyal, always tries hard, always tries her best. She took a little time off and came back fresh, and won a big race."
The 4-year-old Elusive Quality filly was on or close to the lead throughout the fast-rated mile and sixteenth, getting home in 1:43.55 and carrying 119 pounds. She is a multiple Grade 3 winner of $580,530 with a 5-2-1 record from 12 starts.
Promise of Spring, 2 3/4 lengths back in second, was a length and a half clear of Moonlit Garden.
"It was perfect (trip)," said Corey Lanerie, who rode second aboard Promise of Spring. I found myself sitting right behind the two favorites and was trying to go and went we after them, but it wasn't good enough today to win. She ran a tremendous race."
Ortiz also said it was a "perfect" trip aboard Moonlit Garden.
"She broke good. Put me there good," Ortiz said. "I sat a half a length behind them. Maybe half a mile, I started making my move, but She's a Julie is a really nice filly, Grade 1 placed. She proved it again today."
Arkansas-bred Dutch Parrot ran sixth for Hot Springs owner John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable.
Sports on 02/19/2019