HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Coal Battle remained unbeaten on dirt Sunday, when he won his third Kentucky Derby points race in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Coal Battle won his fourth straight race in a streak that began in Jean Lafitte, a two-turn stakes at Delta Downs. Coal Battle then won his first Kentucky Derby qualifier in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park and captured another in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. Trainer Lonnie Briley said he skipped the Southwest, the next race in the series at Oaklawn, to have a fresh horse for the Rebel and Coal Battle came out running Sunday. He broke well from the rail and settled in fifth, as Madaket Road jumped out to the lead and set the pace with Innovator and Smoken Wicked chasing the leader through fractions of 22.47 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.72 for the half-mile and 1:10.94 for six furlongs. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Coal Battle ($25.80), who was racing in the second flight, began his bid approaching the half-mile pole, made a three-wide advance on the final turn and cut into Madaket Road's advantage coming to the quarter pole. The pair battled in the stretch, with Coal Battle getting past his rival past the sixteenth pole. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.08. He also picked up 50 points for the Kentucky Derby. Juan Vargas, the regular rider of Coal Battle, was aboard for Briley. “My plan was just to follow the leaders,” Vargas told publicity at Oaklawn. “At the three-eighths pole, I began to move and he just took off. He responded. I was so happy with that. I knew I had horse, but [Madaket Road] just kept running. “At the sixteenth pole, my horse started to put his neck in front and I knew I had more horse today and he ran well to the finish line. It’s the best race he’s ever run. The field was stronger than his previous races, for sure. There were some nice horses, horses that can run. He showed that he can run, too.” Madaket Road finished second, 1 1/4 lengths behind Coal Battle to pick up 25 points for the Kentucky Derby. Sandman closed for third, a half-length behind Madaket Road, which was worth 15 points. It was another two lengths back in fourth to Publisher, who earned 10 points, while fifth-place finisher Tiztastic earned five. Coal Battle won the Smarty Jones on the front end, but has long been effective using the off the pace tactics he employed Sunday. “I didn’t want to go to the front in the Smarty Jones because I like him coming from off the pace,” Briley said. “That’s more or less his cup of tea.” Briley said the slower fractions in the Smarty Jones led to Coal Battle being up front in that race. He said he was hoping for a quicker pace in the Rebel. The Rebel was the richest of five stakes on a 12-race card in which an estimated 36,000 people were on track, according to Oaklawn. Handle from all sources topped $21 million, up from last year’s $19.9 million. Oaklawn had to move the Rebel card to Sunday after a winter storm system hit Tuesday. Coal Battle is a son of Coal Front who races for Norman Stables. He has now won 5 of 7 starts and he became a millionaire Sunday as the first-place check of $735,000 pushed his earnings to $1,188,875. Coal Battle is now 5 for 5 on dirt, with his other main track win coming in a maiden special weight sprint at Evangeline Downs.  Coal Battle has been based this winter at Oaklawn. Briley also has a division at Delta Downs.  Racing resumes Monday with the running of the Dixie Belle Stakes.  :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.