Coal Front's Godolphin Mile win a first for Pletcher, Ortiz

The Americans struck early on Saturday’s Dubai World Cup (G1) card when the Todd Pletcher-trained Coal Front, with Jose Ortiz in the irons, tracked down local runner Heavy Metal to win the Group 2, $1.5 million Godolphin Mile at Meydan.

The victory represented Pletcher’s first in Dubai World Cup night and came on Ortiz’s first Meydan mount.

Coal Front, a 5-year-old by Stay Thirsty, has won three straight races now, following up on scores in Gulfstream Park’s Mr. Prospector (G3) and Oaklawn Park’s Razorback Handicap (G3).

The dueling leaders finished well ahead 4-5 race favorite Muntazah, who was third.

"I knew we had a good shot," Ortiz said. "My horse has speed, and I knew he was going to put me in a good position on the backside, and he did."

"He had a fantastic run," Pletcher added. "Our whole team is very proud of him.”

True Timber, the other U.S.-based runner in the field, did not hit the board.

Going a one-turn mile, Coal Front, who tracked the leaders four-wide up the back stretch, finished up in 1:36.51. He caught Heavy Metal on the outside in deep stretch to prevail by 3/4 of a length.

"When I hit left-handed, he gave me another kick," Ortiz said. "We pulled off the win. I'm very happy."

Campaigned by Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, the lightly raced Coal Front improved his record to 7-0-0 in nine career starts.

"He has had some health issues, on and off but always had a ton of talent," Kumin said. "And Todd Pletcher has done a great job with him. We thought if he could handle the mile 1/16, we would come back to the mile and everything worked out well. It was worth the trip."

Pletcher's barn had sent out 16 Dubai runners without a win before Coal Front's breakthrough.