Cool Coal Man sharp in work

Cool Coal Man put in his final Kentucky Derby work Thursday morning, breezing a half-mile in :47.40 in company with stablemate Chris Got Even, who was clocked in the same time, which was the second fastest of 35 at the distance.

Megan Smillie was aboard Cool Coal Man and Julien Leparoux, who will ride Cool Coal Man in the Derby, was on Chris Got Even. The duo did their work over a fast track after the renovation break. Fractions :11.60, :23.40, :35 and out in 1:02.60.

“I was very happy. He was galloping along the right way,” trainer Nick Zito said. “You always worry about the breeze before the Derby, but they were really comfortable. I worked him with a really nice maiden, Chris Got Even, and he won’t be a maiden for long. He is going to run Derby Day. He’s a pretty nice colt. (Bettors: Note undercard tip.)

“I just wanted Julien to see his horse, which is why I had him work the other horse. Basically, I just wanted him to get alongside him and see what kind of horse he’s got instead of being on top of him. Plus, Megan gets on him all the time and I didn’t want to change anything.”

Cool Coal Man followed a similar work pattern before his Fountain of Youth (GII) victory in February with a :47.20 work nine days before the race.

“He’s not a big, giant horse. He’s perfectly built, but not really big,” Zito said. “I don’t think many horses can boast his record as far as conditioning goes. Nobdoy has three mile-and-an-eighth races, so I don’t want to overdo it. I don’t want to underdo it. I’d rather have him gallop all week into the Derby.”