Coal Front set to make stakes debut in G2 Amsterdam

by Najja Thompson

Unbeaten in two starts, talented colt Coal Front will make the jump to graded stakes competition, facing four foes in the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Robert LaPenta and purchased for $575,000 as a 2-year-old in training and in the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, the son of Stay Thirsty, who was also trained by Pletcher, made his debut at Keeneland on April 20 when he bested a field of eight to win by 6 ½ lengths and followed up by winning an allowance race on June 8 at Belmont by 2 ¾ lengths.

"He's a big solid, very powerful horse," said Pletcher. "He has a lot of natural ability and had two very good races and trained well since then. We're looking forward to trying the Amsterdam and he seems to be running very well. We gave strong consideration to the [Grade 3] Dwyer coming off that big allowance race but we felt a little extra time off wouldn't hurt and he's already handled the distance. The Amsterdam sets us up to go in a number of different positions after that."

With Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in the irons, the pair will leave from post 2.

Excitations is looking to rebound off a pair of subpar graded stakes starts for trainer Al Stall and Fair Grounds Racing Club. A progeny of Into Mischief, he began his racing career at Fair Grounds as a 2-year-old, breaking his maiden in his second start in February and followed up with a third-place finish in an optional-claiming race. After impressively winning an allowance race on April 12 at Keeneland by 4 ¼ lengths, he then made his next two starts at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Pat Day mile and Matt Winn Stakes, finishing eleventh and fifth, respectively.

"We've tried two turns twice and we're not going to do that," said Stall. "I'm not 100 percent sure that he just didn't like Churchill Downs too much. His form was good at Fair Grounds, he ran great at Keeneland and he was just like a different horse in his two races at Churchill with no apparent problems to us. Hopefully, a change in environment and maybe that will get him back to his Fair Grounds or Keenland form."

With Javier Castellano aboard for the first time, Excitations will depart from post 5.

Entering off a two-win streak is Toga Challenger for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and owners Michael Dubb and David Simon.

A son of Successful Appeal claimed in his debut, Toga Challenger has three wins from five starts with two second-place finishes. Posting back-to-back allowance wins at Belmont, most recently with a 92 Beyer on June 29, Rodriguez is looking to strike at the right opportunity.

"He ran a good race against older horses and it's straight 3-year-olds," said Rodriguez. [At] "6 1/2 , seven-eighths, I think that's what he's looking for. He's a nice, solid horse that we picked up and he is improving every day. He's doing good so we want to try him in a stake and hope for the best."

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, they will leave from post 6.

Rounding out the field is Mo Cash for Marco Thoroughbred Corporation and trainer Ronald Spatz, who enters off a second-place finish by a neck in the Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream Park on July 1; Aquamarine, for Zayat Stables and Hall of Fame trainer Wayne Lukas; and Singing Bullet, for trainer Dale Romans and Stronach Stables.