Contender Status
Cool Coal Man's victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) was his fourth win in seven starts while defeating several Triple Crown contenders that had previously been considered better candidates.
It was also his second win in two starts at Gulfstream Park, leading trainer Nick Zito to at least seriously consider the Florida Derby (G1) on March 29 at the Hallandale, Florida track.
"I can't say where or what race he will run in, possibly the Florida Derby," Zito said after the Fountain of Youth. "He's not a big horse. He'd need to have a good 30 days from now. We'll see."
Zito eventually decided to pass on the Florida Derby in order to give the Mineshaft colt more time between races and eventually decided on the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 12 at Keeneland Race Course, which would be his first attempt over an artificial surface.
"I really wanted a fresh horse," Zito said. "He’s two-for-two this year and he certainly looks good, so I just wanted some kind of chance for this horse in the Derby and I hope we get it.
"I would prefer to have run on a conventional track like Churchill Downs, but the Blue Grass is a good race and I’ve been lucky in it a lot of times, too. And I saw what Street Sense did last year, and if he could run that kind of race I’ll take it and then maybe we’ll get lucky in the big one."
April 24 - Four furlongs breezing in :47.40 at Churchill Downs, track fast. Second best of 35 workouts at the distance.
"I was very happy [with the workout]," trainer Nick Zito said. "You always worry about the breeze before the Derby, but they were really comfortable. I worked him with a really nice maiden, Chis Got Even, and he won't be a maiden for long."
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs
Trainer Nick Zito, on keeping his Triple Crown contenders from facing one another until the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1):
"That is the easiest thing in the world. You got a million places to go. There are so many preps before the big dance and so many options.
"Now the big dance is different. You hope you have as many as you can. The more chances you have, the better you are. You see now what happens; you could have nine and it doesn't matter. That would be the least of our problems."