Coal Front
Coal Front
5-Time GSW At 5 Different Distances & Tracks
2014, Dark Bay, 16h | Entered Stud: 2020 | Nominated to: Breeders' Cup, KTDF
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“He’s an arresting physical, as a $575,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old, and a miler who clocked his briskest numbers sprinting. Nonetheless the right mares should draw out that speed through a second turn: both his parents share A.P. Indy as a grandsire”
—TDN’s Chris McGrath
2023 racing: Top 5 First-Crop Sire in North America (thru July), with winners incl. impressive Saratoga MdSpWt-winning 2yo colt Crazy Mason!
2023 sales: No. 5 Freshman Sire in North America by 2-Year-Old Avg. – $150,000 – after OBS March.
A top 15 first-crop yearling sire in 2022 – no other freshman stallion in North America standing for $5,000 or less had a higher yearling average: $30,555 – over 6x the bred-on fee.
First yearlings sold up to $105,000, $90,000, etc.
A rare 5-time Graded SW at 5 different distances & racetracks.
107 BEYER – the fastest Graded SW 3-year-old of 2017 around one turn.
At 3: Won 4 of 5 starts including Saratoga’s Amsterdam (G2) in 1:16.05 (104 Beyer) for 6.5f & Parx’s Gallant Bob (G3) in 1:08.94 (107 Beyer) for 6f.
TDN Rising Star: 6 ½-length debut winner at Keeneland in 1:09.98, 2 ¾-length Allowance winner at Belmont in second start, Saratoga G2 winner in third start.
At 4: Won Gulfstream’s Mr. Prospector (G3) in 1:23.16 for 7f, earning a 102 Beyer.
“I believe in Coal Front. This is a very, very fast horse. There aren’t many like him that you could Share The Upside on. I’m in.” —Kip Elser
At 5: Won $1,500,000 Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan in 1:36.51 (121 Timeform Rating) from post 12, Oaklawn’s $500,000 Razorback (G3) in 1:43.45 for 1 1/16 miles from post 14, and Parx Dirt Mile S.
Ran four negative numbers on THORO-GRAPH, including two as a 3-year-old: -2 1/2, -2, -1, -1.
World-class miler: Earned $1,825,280, with victories over top-class middle-distance horses in America and the U.A.E.
Striking & well-made individual: $575,000 2-year-old purchase, top 5 price at OBS April in 2016.
Out of the multiple stakes-producing Mineshaft mare Miner’s Secret, a half to SW ADMIRAL ALEX and multiple GSW WOODLANDER.
4x4x4 to influential sire SEATTLE SLEW, 3×3 to A.P. INDY.
First crop are 2-year-olds in 2023.
Participating in the SAFE BET PROGRAM in 2023

Age | Starts | 1st (SW) | 2nd (SP) | 3rd (SP) | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 5 | 4 (2) | 0 | 0 | $411,000 |
4 | 2 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | $66,280 |
5 | 5 | 3 (3) | 0 | 1 (1) | $1,348,000 |
Totals | 13 | 8 (6) | 0 | 1 (1) | $1,825,280 |
Racing Highlights
Won at 3- Amsterdam S. at Saratoga (G2, 6.5f, by 1 1/2 lengths, defeating Excitations, Singing Bullet, etc.)
- Gallant Bob S. at Parx (G3, 6f, defeating American Pastime, Petrov, Sonic Mule, etc.)
- An allowance race at Belmont (6.5f, by 2 3/4 lengths, defeating Patternrecognition, Divine Interventio, Bombs Away, Skyler's Scramjet, etc.)
- A maiden special weight race at Keeneland (*TDN Rising Star*, 6f, by 6 1/2 lengths on debut, defeating Fifth Title, Class Won, etc.)
- Mr. Prospector S. at Gulfstream (G3, 7f, by 3 3/4 lengths, defeating Storm Advisory, Heartwood, Wild Shot, Conquest Big E, etc.)
- Godolphin Mile S. at Meydan (UAE) (G2, 8f, defeating Heavy Metal, Muntazah, Kimbear, True Timber, etc.)
- Razorback H. at Oaklawn (G3, 8.5f, defeating Copper Bullet, Rated R Superstar, Sonneteer, All Out Blitz, Souper Tapit, Thirstforlife, etc.)
- Parx Dirt Mile S. at Parx (8f, defeating Diamond King, Forewarned, Wild About Deb, etc.)
- Monmouth Cup at Monmouth (G3, 9f, to War Story and Bal Harbour)
Pedigree




ALAN PORTER’S 2023 BREEDING ANALYSIS FOR COAL FRONT
A multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter/miler who earned over $1,800,000, Coal Front is from the sire line of Bernardini – the only Champion Three-Year-Old Colt by A.P. Indy – and is from prolific stakes producing family.
Coal Front’s sire, Stay Thirsty, has multiple Grade one-winning sprinter Mind Control, out of a mare by Lightnin N Thunder, a son of Storm Cat, and also has stakes winners from this line out of mares by Giant’s Causeway (sire of First Samurai, Eskendereya and Creative Cause), Catienus and Discreet Cat (by Forestry, also sire of Shackleford). Bernardini has a graded winner out of a mare by Tale of the Cat (sire of Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati; grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), and there are also Bernardini line stakes winners out of mares by Harlan’s Holiday (sire of Into Mischief, Shanghai Bobby and Majesticperfection), Bernstein, Stormy Atlantic, Tabasco Cat, Exploit and Tomorrows Cat. This could suggest other Storm Cat sons such as Hennessy (sire of Henny Hughes and Johannesburg; grandsire of Scat Daddy), and Forest Wildcat (sire of Wildcat Heir and D’Wildcat) and Pure Prize.
From the Deputy Minister line, Stay Thirsty has stakes winning and grade one placed two-year-old Finneus out of a mare by Ghostzapper (by Awesome Again, also sire of Awesome of Course, Daaher, Oxbow and Paynter). From another branch of this line, Stay Thirsty has a stakes winner out of a mare by Salt Lake, and this strain has also done extremely well with Bernardini, with two Grade one winners out of mares by Deputy Minister himself, and stakes winners out of mares by Touch Gold, Dehere and his son, Graeme Hall, and Badge of Silver (by Silver Deputy).
From the Sadler’s Wells branch of Northern Dancer, Stay Thirsty has the graded stakes-winning two-year-old Pickin’ Time out a mare by King of Kings and a stakes winner out of a mare by Dushyantor. There is a Bernardini Grade one winner out of a mare by Medaglia d’Oro (sire of Warrior’s Reward and Violence), and a stakes winner out of a mare by his sire, El Prado (also sire of Kitten’s Joy and Artie Schiller) and a stakes winner out of a mare by Galileo (sire of Magician and Capo Blanco).
From the Mr. Prospector line sire, Stay Thirsty has a Grade one winner out of a mare by Woodman (sire of Hansel and Timber Country), and another out of a mare by that horse’s three-quarters brother, Not For Love. Woodman is bred on the same cross as Seeking the Gold (broodmare sire of a Bernardini graded stakes winner, and sire of Mutakddim, Petionville and Cape Town) and Miswaki. Bernardini has been very good with Mr. Prospector through Carson City – broodmare sire of two stakes winners by Stay Thirsty and sire of City Zip, Five Star Day and Pollard’s Vision. He has a Grade one winner out of a mare by Distorted Humor (sire of Any Given Saturday, Sharp Humor, Drosselmeyer, Maclean’s Music and Jimmy Creed). Stay Thirsty also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Smart Strike (sire of Curlin, Lookin At Lucky – broodmare sire of two Bernardini line stakes winners – and English Channel) and Street Cry (sire of Street Sense, Street Boss, Street Magician and Street Hero).
Stay Thirsty also has stakes winners out of mares by Anees and Unbridled’s Song, both sons of Unbridled. Bernardini has also done extremely well over Unbridled’s Song, and among sons of that stallion who could be tried here are Liam’s Map, Cross Traffic, Arrogate, Eurosilver, Even The Score, Half Ours, Mission Impazible, Old Fashioned, Rockport Harbor, Songandaprayer and Zensational. Unbridled is also sire of Grindstone (whose son, Birdstone, is sire of a stakes winner out of the dam of Coal Front), Broken Vow and Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister; grandsire of American Pharoah, Cairo Prince and Classic Empire). Unbridled is a Fappiano line horse, and from another branch of that line, Bernardini is sire of a Grade one winner out of a mare by Cryptoclearance (available through Victory Gallop, and through Candy Ride and his son, Twirling Candy). It would also be interesting to try Coal Front over mares by Lemon Drop Kid.
There is a Grade one winner by Coal Front’s sire out of a mare by Southern Halo, the sire of More Than Ready (sire of Ready’s Image, Daredevil and Verrazano). This is the Halo line, and there is a Bernardini stakes winner out of a mare Halo son, Saint Ballado (sire of Saint Liam, Yankee Victor and Sweetsouthernsaint) a brother to Devil’s Bag.
There are two stakes winners by Bernardini out of Blushing Groom line mares, including a graded winner out of a mare by Cherokee Run, who could be brought in through Kafwain, War Pass and Yonaguska. It could also be worth considering introducing this strain through Rahy (out of Champion Glorious Song, a sister to Saint Ballado and Devil’s Bag) and Mt. Livermore, the sire of Orientate and Housebuster.
ALAN PORTER’S 2023 BREEDING ANALYSIS FOR COAL FRONT
A multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter/miler who earned over $1,800,000, Coal Front is from the sire line of Bernardini – the only Champion Three-Year-Old Colt by A.P. Indy – and is from prolific stakes producing family.
Coal Front’s sire, Stay Thirsty, has multiple Grade one-winning sprinter Mind Control, out of a mare by Lightnin N Thunder, a son of Storm Cat, and also has stakes winners from this line out of mares by Giant’s Causeway (sire of First Samurai, Eskendereya and Creative Cause), Catienus and Discreet Cat (by Forestry, also sire of Shackleford). Bernardini has a graded winner out of a mare by Tale of the Cat (sire of Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati; grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), and there are also Bernardini line stakes winners out of mares by Harlan’s Holiday (sire of Into Mischief, Shanghai Bobby and Majesticperfection), Bernstein, Stormy Atlantic, Tabasco Cat, Exploit and Tomorrows Cat. This could suggest other Storm Cat sons such as Hennessy (sire of Henny Hughes and Johannesburg; grandsire of Scat Daddy), and Forest Wildcat (sire of Wildcat Heir and D’Wildcat) and Pure Prize.
From the Deputy Minister line, Stay Thirsty has stakes winning and grade one placed two-year-old Finneus out of a mare by Ghostzapper (by Awesome Again, also sire of Awesome of Course, Daaher, Oxbow and Paynter). From another branch of this line, Stay Thirsty has a stakes winner out of a mare by Salt Lake, and this strain has also done extremely well with Bernardini, with two Grade one winners out of mares by Deputy Minister himself, and stakes winners out of mares by Touch Gold, Dehere and his son, Graeme Hall, and Badge of Silver (by Silver Deputy).
From the Sadler’s Wells branch of Northern Dancer, Stay Thirsty has the graded stakes-winning two-year-old Pickin’ Time out a mare by King of Kings and a stakes winner out of a mare by Dushyantor. There is a Bernardini Grade one winner out of a mare by Medaglia d’Oro (sire of Warrior’s Reward and Violence), and a stakes winner out of a mare by his sire, El Prado (also sire of Kitten’s Joy and Artie Schiller) and a stakes winner out of a mare by Galileo (sire of Magician and Capo Blanco).
From the Mr. Prospector line sire, Stay Thirsty has a Grade one winner out of a mare by Woodman (sire of Hansel and Timber Country), and another out of a mare by that horse’s three-quarters brother, Not For Love. Woodman is bred on the same cross as Seeking the Gold (broodmare sire of a Bernardini graded stakes winner, and sire of Mutakddim, Petionville and Cape Town) and Miswaki. Bernardini has been very good with Mr. Prospector through Carson City – broodmare sire of two stakes winners by Stay Thirsty and sire of City Zip, Five Star Day and Pollard’s Vision. He has a Grade one winner out of a mare by Distorted Humor (sire of Any Given Saturday, Sharp Humor, Drosselmeyer, Maclean’s Music and Jimmy Creed). Stay Thirsty also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Smart Strike (sire of Curlin, Lookin At Lucky – broodmare sire of two Bernardini line stakes winners – and English Channel) and Street Cry (sire of Street Sense, Street Boss, Street Magician and Street Hero).
Stay Thirsty also has stakes winners out of mares by Anees and Unbridled’s Song, both sons of Unbridled. Bernardini has also done extremely well over Unbridled’s Song, and among sons of that stallion who could be tried here are Liam’s Map, Cross Traffic, Arrogate, Eurosilver, Even The Score, Half Ours, Mission Impazible, Old Fashioned, Rockport Harbor, Songandaprayer and Zensational. Unbridled is also sire of Grindstone (whose son, Birdstone, is sire of a stakes winner out of the dam of Coal Front), Broken Vow and Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister; grandsire of American Pharoah, Cairo Prince and Classic Empire). Unbridled is a Fappiano line horse, and from another branch of that line, Bernardini is sire of a Grade one winner out of a mare by Cryptoclearance (available through Victory Gallop, and through Candy Ride and his son, Twirling Candy). It would also be interesting to try Coal Front over mares by Lemon Drop Kid.
There is a Grade one winner by Coal Front’s sire out of a mare by Southern Halo, the sire of More Than Ready (sire of Ready’s Image, Daredevil and Verrazano). This is the Halo line, and there is a Bernardini stakes winner out of a mare Halo son, Saint Ballado (sire of Saint Liam, Yankee Victor and Sweetsouthernsaint) a brother to Devil’s Bag.
There are two stakes winners by Bernardini out of Blushing Groom line mares, including a graded winner out of a mare by Cherokee Run, who could be brought in through Kafwain, War Pass and Yonaguska. It could also be worth considering introducing this strain through Rahy (out of Champion Glorious Song, a sister to Saint Ballado and Devil’s Bag) and Mt. Livermore, the sire of Orientate and Housebuster.