Barn Notes 3/21/25
Compiled by Robert Yates
Friday, March 21, 2025
Coal Battle is scheduled to work Sunday morning in advance of a probable start in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 29 at Oaklawn, trainer Lonnie Briley said.
For several weeks, Coal Battle has been under consideration for the Arkansas Derby and the $1.25 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 5 at Keeneland, with a third option, Briley said, training up to the Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Briley said Friday morning that he’s “99-percent sure” Coal Battle will run in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, which is Oaklawn’s fourth and final Kentucky Derby qualifying race.
“He’s feeling good and everything,” Briley said after Coal Battle galloped over Oaklawn’s fast-rated surface. “I kind of need a race in him. It would be 10 weeks before the (Kentucky) Derby if I wouldn’t have done it. It was either the Arkansas Derby or the Blue Grass. The Blue Grass, to me, would have been a little close. And this one’s kind of in the middle, so I’ll probably go in this one.”
Coal Battle hasn’t started since winning the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 23. The Rebel was Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby qualifying race. Coal Battle also won its first, the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 4. Both races were 1 1/16 miles. Coal Battle, unbeaten in five career dirt starts, tops the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 70 points.
The Arkansas Derby will award 200 total points (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) to its top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters.
Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for the Arkansas Derby and five other stakes races March 29 at Oaklawn – $750,000 Fantasy (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses, $250,000 Matron for older fillies and mares at 6 furlongs, $145,000 Eclipse Overnight for older horses at 6 furlongs and the $145,000 American Pharoah Overnight for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.
Kentucky Bound
Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner G W’s Girl remains on track to make her next start in the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at about 7 furlongs April 6 at Keeneland, trainer Greg Compton said Friday morning.
G W’s Girl is unbeaten in two career dirt starts, both coming this year at Oaklawn. She won the $150,000 Mockingbird Stakes Jan. 4 and the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes Feb. 24. Both races were 6 furlongs. Oaklawn’s stakes sprint series for 3-year-old fillies continues Saturday with the $175,000 Purple Martin at 6 furlongs.
“It was too close together,” Compton said, referring to the Purple Martin and Beaumont. “Two weeks apart – a little close.”
Compton said if all goes well in the Beaumont, G W’s Girl will be pointed to the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies May 16 at Pimlico.
“I don’t want to just run her legs off, go Purple Martin and then to the Beaumont,” Compton said. “I guess we could have gone Purple Martin and into Oaks Day (G2 Eight Belles May 2 at Churchill Downs), but she’s not the biggest filly. I don’t want to just gut her up in the early part of the year. We’ve still got a big part of the year to go.”
Compton said he plans to work G W’s Girl the next two weekends at Oaklawn before shipping to Keeneland approximately four days before the Beaumont. Compton trains G W’s Girl, a daughter of Munnings, for Mag Racing of Gregg Massanelli & Margaret Molleston. G W’s Girl has a 3-0-0 record from four lifetime starts and earnings of $195,975. G W’s Girl was purchased for $130,000 at the OBS March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
