Coal Battle Looks to Rebound in Oklahoma Derby

Millionaire Coal Battle  looks to rebound in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sept. 28 against seven other 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles at Remington Park. He fired a bullet work Sept. 20, going five furlongs in :59 4/5 at Ellis Park, and is coming in fresh off a game second-place finish in the July 5 Indiana Derby (G3), where he lost by half a length to Tip Top Thomas . 

The fan-favorite son of Coal Front  will take on a strong pair of Steve Asmussen trainees in Iron Dome  and Publisher , the latter of which he has beaten in three of four meetings, losing to that rival only when he finished third behind Sandman  and Publisher in the Arkansas Derby (G1). 

Iron Dome faces a step up in class as he takes on graded stakes company for the first time. The New York-bred son of Into Mischief   was recently seen winning the Albany Stakes at Saratoga Race Course by 6 3/4 lengths. 

BBN Racing's Bracket Buster , who was most recently second to Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty  in the Travers Stakes (G1), will be in search of his first graded stakes win Saturday for trainer Vicki Oliver.