Churchill Downs: Derby runners look to rebound in Matt Winn

Norman Stables’ Coal Battle will look to rebound from a rough 11th-place finish in Kentucky Derby 2025 when he returns in Sunday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, a race trainer Lonnie Briley hopes will offer a much smoother trip.

“He didn’t get to do a whole lot of running in the Derby,” Briley said. “I think East Avenue is probably the speed in the Matt Winn. I just hope someone can go with him to set it up for Coal Battle.”

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Matt Winn field features five horses who competed in Kentucky Derby 151, Final Gambit, who was fourth; Burnham Square, sixth; East Avenue, eighth; Chunk of Gold, ninth; and Coal Battle.

“It was a really tough trip in the Derby,” Briley said. “He got bounced around there pretty good going into the turn and really took away any momentum he had. Luckily, he came out of the race good and has trained steady going into this race on Sunday.”

While Coal Battle will attempt to have a cleaner trip, Juddmonte’s Final Gambit will try to get off to a better start than in his previous efforts.

The Brad Cox trainee has broken slowly from the gate several times and earlier this week was sent from the gate at the start of his daily training session.

“He popped out of there well,” assistant trainer Trace Messina said. “Hopefully he can translate that in the afternoon so he doesn’t have so much work to do in the race.”