Cool Coal Man
Cool Coal Man is from the first crop of Horse of the Year and $2.2 million earner Mineshaft, whose exploits on the track matched his regal pedigree. As a son of 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, Mineshaft promised to excel at classic distances. He began his racing career on the turf in England, where he managed one win from seven starts, but he did not fulfill his abundant potential until returning to the United States and switching to the dirt. In early 2003, Mineshaft served notice that he would be a major player in the older male division when surging to a 3 1/2-length victory in the New Orleans H. (G2). Over the course of that season, he captured such prestigious events as the Pimlico Special H. (G1), Suburban H. (G1) and Woodward S. (G1) before wrapping up championship honors with an effortless 4 1/4-length score in the Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1). Considering that Mineshaft reached the peak of his powers at the age of four, it is to be expected that his progeny will likewise improve with age and longer distances. Cool Coal Man is his first graded stakes winner, but he is represented by an impressive total of 11 Triple Crown nominees, including Casino Drive, a smashing debut winner in Japan who may aim for the Belmont S. (G1). Cool Coal Man is the fifth foal produced by Coral Sea, the winner of four minor races from seven furlongs up to 1 1/8 miles. Three of her previous offspring are winners. The most accomplished of them, Kathleens Reel (Lemon Drop Kid), is a smart two-turn performer who landed the Prime Rewards S. at Delta Downs in late December. Coral Sea is a daughter of champion sprinter Rubiano, successful in the 1991 NYRA Mile H. (G1) as well as the 1992 Carter H. (G1) and Vosburgh S. (G1) during his championship campaign. Rubiano's progeny have recorded an Average Winning Distance of seven furlongs, with his best representatives being 2000 Futurity S. (G1) winner Burning Roma and multiple Grade 2-winning sprinter Too Much Bling. Rubiano is also transmitting his speed through his daughters, who have produced such classy sprinters as War Front (Danzig), Ecclesiastic (Pulpit) and Victorina (Delaware Township). However, Take Charge Lady (Dehere), a two-time winner of the 1 1/8-mile Spinster S. (G1) in 2002 and 2003, is also out of a Rubiano mare. Coral Sea's dam, the multiple stakes-placed South Sea Dancer, is by 1964 Kentucky Derby and Preakness S. hero Northern Dancer and out of 1970 Canadian Oaks queen South Ocean (New Providence). South Sea Dancer is a full sister to Storm Bird, the once-beaten English and Irish champion juvenile of 1980 who is now a renowned sire. She is also a full sister to two-time Canadian champion filly Northernette.
Trainer: Nick Zito
Zito, a New York City native, started in racing as a teenager as a hotwalker and groom for trainer Buddy Jacobson. He later worked as an assistant to trainers LeRoy Jolley and John Campo. He saddled his first winner in 1972 and is one of only 17 trainers in history to saddle two or more Kentucky Derby winners (Strike The Gold and Go For Gin), as well as the 2003 Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town. Zito saddled 2005 Kentucky Derby favorite Bellamy Road to a seventh place finish. This year his stable is stocked full of Derby contenders including War Pass, Anak Nakal, Cool Coal Man, Paint, Stevil and Web Gem.
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Leparoux was born on July 15, 1983 in Senlis, France. He moved to Southern California in 2003, to work as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone, a fellow French native. He began riding at Saratoga in 2005 and was quick to make an impact on the racing scene. Leparoux had a breakout year in 2006 which culminated in an Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey; his accolades in '06 included two record breaking meets at Turfway Park, meet leading titles at Churchill Downs and Keeneland Race Course, 403 wins and $12,491,316 in earnings for the year, as well as his first stakes win (in February) and first Grade 1 win (in August). The gravy train did not stop in 2007 as Leparoux picked up meet titles at Turfway Park, Keeneland, and Churchill Downs' spring and fall meets; he also won his first Breeders' Cup race in the Juvenile Turf with Nownownow. Leparoux contested his first Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in 2007 and was unplaced in each event.
Owner: Robert V. LaPenta
Robert V. LaPenta has been involved in racing since 1998 when he partnered with University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. He later started his own stable in 2001. Among his first eight horses which her purchased as yearlings for a combined total of less than $900,000 - was Zavata, a multiple graded stakes winner. His top runner to date has been The Cliff's Edge, who won the 2004 Blue Grass (Grade 1) at Keeneland and went on to finish 5th in the Kentucky Derby that year, later capturing the Travers (Grade 1) before retiring to stud. His other Kentucky Derby starter was Andromeda's Hero, who finished 8th in 2005.
Breeder: Farish, Hudson, et al
A former Chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs, Farish is a well known and influential fixture in the racing world. He currently serves as Vice Chairman and Steward of The Jockey Club and a Trustee to the Keeneland Association. He is a former Director of Breeders' Cup Ltd. and former Chairman of the American Horse Council. He is a two-time Eclipse Award winning breeder; some notable horses bred by Farish include A.P. Indy, Charismatic, Danzig, Weekend Surprise, Sacahuista, Seattle Dancer and Storm Song. Farish founded Lane's End in 1979.
RACE HISTORY
Graded Earnings: $212,767 Race Record: 8-4-1-0 Finish Date Race Charts Recap Video 9th 04.12.2008 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) - Keeneland Charts Recap Video Close to slow early pace, tired entering stretch 1st 02.24.2008 Fountain of Youth (GII) - Gulfstream Park Charts Recap Video Settled off slow early pace, kept to task, just held on for the win 1st 01.26.2008 Allowance - Gulfstream Park Charts Video Settled off slow early pace, muscled home for the win 7th 11.24.2007 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) - Churchill Downs Charts Video Pressed the early pace, faltered late, finished last 1st 11.3.2007 Allowance - Churchill Downs Charts Video Pressed early pace, solid driving victory 1st 10.10.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Delaware Park Charts Video Prominent throughout, runaway 10 1/4-length victory 2nd 09.8.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Belmont Park Charts Video Lead early in the race, caught in the stretch; second best 4th 08.18.2007 Maiden Special Weight - Saratoga Charts Video Broke awkardly, raced wide, never threatened