On a sloppy track last out, Fierceness lunged at the start and nearly unseated Irad Ortiz, Jr., eventually tiring to finish seventh as the heavy favorite in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.
Fast-forward four weeks to a dry, fast track in Southern California: the 2-year-old son of City of Light got a perfect trip under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, galloping away to dominate the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) by 6 1/4 lengths. Owned by Mike Repole and conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Fierceness won at odds of 16-1 and paid $35.00 on a $2 win wager.
“Look, not everyone would do that (enter this race off a seventh-place finish in the Champagne (G1)),” Pletcher explained. “We talked about it, we covered every base after the Champagne. The horse trained awesome all summer (at Saratoga); he was a monster since his debut. We took a shot today and it worked out. He had a beautiful trip and he showed what he is all about. A lot of the tactics in a race like this, you have to leave in your rider's hands. I could make a case for five horses being the pacesetter, possibly. It was really about getting in a good rhythm with him and letting him get comfortable with him. (John Velazquez) was able to do that. It did look easy. It was a helluva race. Very impressive.”
Fierceness, a homebred for Repole, sat a perfect stalking trip to complete 1 1/16 miles over Santa Anita's fast main track in 1:41.90. It is the 15th Breeders' Cup winner for Pletcher (fourth in the Juvenile), 20th for Velazquez (second in Juvenile), and second Juvenile winner for Repole (Uncle Mo in 2010). It is also Repole's first homebred Breeders' Cup winner.
The win earns Fierceness 30 points on the Road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby; Repole, whose 2022 Juvenile winner Forte was scratched on the morning of this year's Run for the Roses, joked during the post-race interview that he might skip the first Saturday in May in 2024.
Muth was second best, while Locked engaged late to finish third.
General Partner was sharp out of the gate, heading out to the lead but slowing things down in the first turn. The first quarter went in 23.25 seconds, as compared to 22.47 two races earlier in the Juvenile Fillies. Fierceness kept General Partner company all the way down the backstretch, never more than three-quarters of a length off the leader as General Partner clocked the half in :47.02.
That leading pair was followed by Muth and stablemate Wine Me Up, while to wagering choices Timberlake (3-1) and Locked (2-1) traveled in sixth and last, respectively.
General Partner sped up around the far turn, but he was getting out a bit and couldn't keep pace with Fierceness when Velazquez sent his colt for the lead. Muth wound up rallying three wide to challenge Fierceness, but the eventual winner was well clear after a handful of strides.
Fierceness powered home with ease, crossing the wire 6 1/4 lengths the best. Muth settled for second, while Locked engaged late to finish third. Those three were followed home by Timberlake, Prince of Monaco, General Partner, Cuban Thunder, Wine Me Up, and Noted.
“I had a perfect trip,” said winning rider John Velazquez. “We were concerned a little about the break. He behaved well in the gate and broke well. He went forwardly and sat second nicely. Once we passed the half-mile pole, he grabbed into the bridle a little sooner than I wanted. When he got to the quarter-pole, he started looking around so I got after him. He was running down the stretch and got serious once I got after him. I had no doubt (I was going to win.) I worked him in the morning and I was very impressed and I was hoping he would put the same work in the afternoon.”
Fierceness is a second-generation homebred for Mike Repole, foaled in Kentucky out of the winning Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella. Stay Thirsty won the G1 Travers for Repole in 2011 and the G1 Cigar Mile in 2012; Nonna Bella is a half-sister to Repole's Grade 1 winner and sire Outwork (Uncle Mo).
Now two-for-three in his young career, Fierceness boasts earnings of over $1.2 million.
Fierceness captures the $2 Million @FanDuel #BreedersCup Juvenile pres. by @TBAftercare! Congrats to the connections on a thrilling #FutureStarsFriday victory! pic.twitter.com/rQSmN1o5Kc
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 3, 2023
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