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| Staff Writer |
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Coal Battle, a son of Coal Front, is carrying the hopes of Louisiana racing as he prepares to line up among the 20 starters in Saturday's Gr.1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
The dark bay colt, who broke his maiden at Evangeline Downs last July under little fanfare, has captured the hearts of the American racing public with his remarkable journey from Louisiana's smaller circuits to the nation's greatest race.
After that maiden win at Evangeline Downs, Coal Battle progressed through stakes victories at Delta Downs and Remington Park before joining the Kentucky Derby trail at Oaklawn Park, transforming trainer Lonnie Briley, owner Robbie Norman and jockey Juan Vargas into unexpected stars.
"We absolutely get behind and pull for our native sons," said trainer Benard Chatters, president of the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "Everybody knows you have some fine horsemen down here. They may not get a chance with the highly bred horses sometimes, but they know how to take care of their racehorses and they love the horses. Here it is, proof is in the pudding."
Chatters, stabled in the barn next to Briley and who previously experienced the big stage when racing Holy Heavens in the 2011 Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks, revealed that Coal Battle and his connections have been the "talk of the clockers' stand" in recent months.
"We're very happy for him. Lonnie is a sharpshooter. People are just tickled pink and hoping," Chatters said. "Even though we're very competitive with each other, what would be a better story for the game? He's not a US$5,000 horse, but a US$70,000 purchase that can get in there and have a real legitimate shot on the big day is a big achievement. We're happy and proud and want to support them, too. Anything we can do to help them, we're 100% behind them."
Vargas, who will ride Coal Battle in his first Kentucky Derby, has felt overwhelming support from his peers.
"I get a lot of calls and texts," Vargas said. "Normally, I go to the track in the mornings to work, and a lot of people are wishing me good luck and good luck to the team.
"A lot of people are talking about him and they're pretty excited. They're excited for everybody. Evangeline is a humble track. Everybody works hard every day. Now, a horse for Louisiana, people are so happy for the horse. They let me know how happy they are. It feels good."
Jockey Corey Lanerie, a 19-time leading rider at Churchill Downs who grew up on the Evangeline backstretch, described the community as tight-knit.
"Horses like him don't come around very often in a lot of parts of the country, especially down there," Lanerie said. "They don't spend the money that some of the other people might for horses like that. To come across them is very rare. ... It's just a blessing and I'm just happy for him. It's late in his career. Not many people get to experience this. It's fun to watch."
Though Coal Battle was foaled in Kentucky, he has become an adopted member of the Louisiana-bred family. His sire Coal Front now stands his first season in Louisiana at Red River Farms for a US$2,000 fee.
"I think that this will be another foot forward for us here in Louisiana," concluded Chatters. "It's going to show people that those people can get the horse ready for the big races, all they need is the horse and the opportunity. Maybe some day people will figure that out in mass and start spreading out some of those nice horses."