Juan Vargas

Two days after shipping in following a third in the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, Norman Stables' Coal Battle (Coal Front) began his preparation for the GI Kentucky Derby with a half-mile breeze in :48.40 Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. With trainer Lonnie Briley's assistant, Bethany Taylor, aboard, the GII Rebel winner clicked off an opening quarter-mile in :24 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.40, according to clocker Adam Wallace. "He was too fresh in the Arkansas Derby," Briley said of the four-time stakes winner. "I usually never have...