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Fierceness works for G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic

by NYRA Press Office

• Fierceness works for G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic
• Breeders’ Cup contenders Skippylongstocking and Batucada breeze on the Oklahoma
• May Day Ready breezes in company for G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
• Rice primed for weekend stakes action with six contenders

Repole Stable’s multiple Grade 1-winning Kentucky homebred Fierceness logged his final preparations over the Oklahoma dirt training track on Friday at Saratoga Race Course as he approaches the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 2 at Del Mar.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the talented City of Light sophomore worked a half-mile in 48.98 seconds in company with Illuminare [49.22], according to NYRA Clockers. Fierceness, under regular exercise rider Danny Wright, started slightly behind his workmate, before drawing up on the outside nearing the lane to finish in front at the wire, galloping out in 1:02 1/5.

“It was another good breeze from him. He is pretty consistent with the way he goes every time. He appears to be doing it effortlessly,” said Pletcher. “I was happy with the way the breeze went and the way he’s been doing.”

“It was kind of the same thing we’ve been doing - sit right off his workmate, join up, finish together, and kind of gallop-out on his own,” Pletcher continued.

The reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt has once again risen to the top of his division with wins in the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers last-out on August 24 and the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun in July at the Spa, along with the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March at Gulfstream Park.

“It’s hard to imagine him training any better than he did from the Jim Dandy to the Travers, but I would say he has been every bit as good, if not better,” Pletcher said. “It seems like he’s put on some weight and filled out a bit since the Travers as well - you always love to see that with a 3-year-old in the fall.”

Out of the Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, Fierceness is a full-brother to graded stakes-winner and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-contender Mentee.

Repole Stable homebred Mentee broke the Aqueduct Racetrack main track record for five furlongs in a debut victory in June, winning by a nose over Colloquial in a final time of 56.97 seconds.

Mentee went on to finish a distant sixth in the Grade 1 Hopeful on September 2 at the Spa before a successful switch to turf when taking the six-furlong Grade 3 Futurity by 3 1/2 lengths – awarded a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Mentee will instead run in the one-mile Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

“He’s finished with his breezes, he’s all set for the Juvenile Turf,” Pletcher said. “All the New York horses are going to ship on Sunday.”

Donegal Racing’s Futurity runner-up Gate to Wire was the first also-eligible for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and drew into the body of the race when filly Celandine came out.

The Munnings chestnut worked a half-mile in 49 flat when adding blinkers last Friday on the Belmont Park dirt training track. Pletcher said that Gate to Wire will run in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“I thought he worked very well with the addition of blinkers last week. He too has all of his preparations done,” Pletcher said. “We are happy that he drew in.”

Pletcher added that Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice, like Fierceness a contender for the Classic, is likely to work Saturday at Belmont Park, but the rest of his Championships-crew is about done with their local preparations.

“I’m going to drive down to Belmont here shortly, probably will give him another breeze tomorrow,” Pletcher said from his Saratoga barn.

The Grade 1-winning 4-year-old son of Tapit captured the nine-furlong Grade 2 Woodward on September 28 at Belmont at the Big A. The victory added to graded glory in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup in July at its namesake oval, the Grade 1 Blue Grass last April at Keeneland and the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby one month prior at Tampa Bay Downs.

“It was only his third start of the year, so we are playing catch-up a little bit,” Pletcher said. “It looks like he might be rounding into form at the right time.”

Whisper Hill Farm’s Grand Sonata won the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 7 at Kentucky Downs and secured a spot in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. The 5-year-old Medaglia d’Oro dark bay worked a half-mile in 51.55 over the Oklahoma turf last Friday.

“His preparations are all done, it is on to the Turf. I was happy to see him finally win a big one. He had come close multiple times, so it was good to see him finally get a big one,” Pletcher said. “He seemed to like Kentucky Downs. This will be a deep field with some strong Europeans, but he’s in good form and always shows up and tries hard.”

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Breeders’ Cup contenders Skippylongstocking and Batucada breeze on the Oklahoma

Daniel Alonso’s multiple Grade 1-placed multimillionaire Skippylongstocking breezed a half-mile in a bullet 47.93 seconds on Friday on Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma dirt training track, according to NYRA Clockers.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., the 5-year-old Exaggerator horse is pre-entered in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, with his second preference listed as the Grade 1 Dirt Mile, on November 2 at Del Mar. He completed Friday’s move in company with The Queens M G, covering the first quarter-mile in 24 flat and quickening slightly down the lane.

Washonn Rochester, assistant to Joseph, Jr., said Skippylongstocking checked all the boxes before heading West.

“I thought he worked good. We worked him in company with a decent filly. He did what we wanted to do and galloped out nicely,” said Rochester. “He was outside of The Queens M G, and he did exactly what the rider asked. Just sit off - he can be a bit keen - and then when they get down the lane, just finish up together and gallop-out the five-eighths. I think we are on the right path."

The multiple graded stakes-winning Skippylongstocking finished third in last year’s Dirt Mile won by Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish at Santa Anita Park. His most recent effort was a close second to Classic-probable Tapit Trice in the Grade 2 Woodward on September 28 at Belmont at the Big A.

Skippylongstocking boasts a record of 27-9-3-5 with in excess of $3 million in earnings.

Also on the tab was Morgan Joseph and Carrie Brogden’s Batucada, who breezed a half-mile in 48.20 seconds solo on the Oklahoma, with splits of 12 3/5, 23 3/5, 48 1/5 and 1:01 2/5, according to NYRA clockers.

“She worked excellent. We worked her alone,” said Rochester. “The same thing, exactly what we wanted to do, she got it done. She can be a bit fast at times. She can be rank. Today, it was perfect and executed well.”

The 4-year-old Union Rags gray was defeated a head by the heavily favored Chad Brown-trained Grade 1-winner Raging Sea in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Beldame last-out on October 6 at Belmont at the Big A.

Batucada’s Beldame showing, a heartbreaking defeat at odds of 22-1, was enough for connections to pre-enter the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on November 2 at Del Mar, while also eyeing the one-mile Grade 3 Bayakoa on that day’s undercard.

As for The Queens M G, Joseph, Jr. has said the dominant winner of the Grade 3 Adirondack in August at the Spa will likely turn to the one-mile Listed Tempted on November 2 at the Big A.

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May Day Ready breezes in company for G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

KatieRich Stables’ undefeated May Day Ready worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 1 at Del Mar.

Trained by Joe Lee, the Tapit bay will look to parlay her “Win and You’re In” nose score in the Grade 2 Jessamine on October 4 at Keeneland to a first Breeders’ Cup win for the conditioner with his first starter. Frankie Dettori, aboard for all three starts, will retain the mount at Del Mar.

May Day Ready, with her regular exercise rider Yosuke Ito up, worked head-and-head this morning to the outside of the Luis Cardenas-piloted maiden Change Your Name.

“She backed up to the seven-eighths and galloped to the half-mile pole. They were basically head-and-head the whole way,” Lee said. “It was a good work, and I was happy with that.

“She seems to have come out of the breeze in good order,” Lee added. “We’ll take a good look at her tomorrow and if all is well, she’ll be leaving on Sunday.”

May Day Ready graduated on debut traveling 1 1/16 miles in August at Saratoga Race Course, staying on gamely to score by a nose over Love Tempo.

She followed with a 1 3/4-length victory in the one-mile Listed Juvenile Fillies on September 8 at Kentucky Downs and was then entered in the local Grade 2 Miss Grillo which was originally slated for September 29. When that race was re-scheduled and re-drawn, Lee opted to send May Day Ready to the 1 1/16-mile Jessamine, where she prevailed in a three-way photo finish with runner-up Totally Justified and the Brad Cox-trained third-place finisher Destino d’Oro.

“We were bumped at the break and drifting to the outside until Frankie straightened her up,” Lee said. “Going into the first turn he checked her and had to take a hold. It wasn’t a smooth trip to the first turn, but Frankie made his way around there through horses to put her where she was.

“I thought for sure the Brad Cox horse had won it,” recalled Lee. “I’d have bet money that his horse won.”

Lee, a longtime assistant for retired trainer turned agent Kiaran McLaughlin, will hope to send out his first Breeders’ Cup starter, he has been to the year-end championships on several occasions beginning with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Halling in the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Belmont Park.

“I was there in 1995 when Halling came over from England and I was working for Godolphin. We ran against Cigar that year and he didn’t run well that day,” Lee recalled.

Lee said he’s hopeful the maturing May Day Ready will continue to improve.

“She’s really nice. She’s lengthening and I wouldn’t trade her for anyone,” Lee said. “She’s inquisitive and really intelligent. It’s going to be a tough race but I’m hoping Frankie will work out a smooth trip.”

May Day Ready was a $325,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the Group 3-winning More Than Ready mare Nemoralia, who was third in the 2015 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

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Rice primed for weekend stakes action with six contenders

Trainer Linda Rice could be set up for a big weekend at Belmont at the Big A as she has six horses entered in as many stakes on the Saturday and Sunday cards.

On Saturday, she will send out Film Star in the Grade 3, $250,000 Forty Niner and Just Music in the Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose, while Sunday’s Empire Showcase Day Card will see four Rice pupils take on fellow state-breds, including With the Angels in the $200,000 Maid of the Mist, Amanda’s Folly in the $250,000 Empire Distaff, Sheriff Bianco in the $150,000 Hudson, and Collaboration in the $200,000 Ticonderoga.

Ronald P. Stewart’s Film Star looks to rebound from a last-out fifth in the Listed Parx Dirt Mile on September 21 at Parx Racing where he trailed in last-of-6 and attempted a rally in the turn but came up empty and was defeated 3 1/4 lengths by returning rival Coastal Mission.

“I don’t think he cared for the track at Parx, and I’m hoping for a better result,” Rice said.

Film Star, who looks for his first graded score, finished second last year in the Grade 2 Woodward here and a game fourth in this event won by Everso Mischievous. In August, he captured an off-the-turf running of the restricted Lure at Saratoga Race Course for his first stakes conquest.

“He had a great year last year and he’s been just a little slow to come around, but he’s got a lot of talent,” Rice said. “He has breezed very well coming into this race.”

Rice added she is confident Irad Ortiz, Jr. can work out a winning trip from the outermost post 8.

“He’s doing great, and I think the race is pretty strong, but we have a nice post position,” Rice said. “Irad is on him, and he won the Lure with him.”

Just Music, owned by Rice, makes her stakes debut in the nine-furlong Mother Goose off a last-out third in a local optional claiming tilt going the same distance on October 19. The Audible sophomore has proven an astute claim for Rice, who haltered the bay for $50,000 in December here. Since then, she has hit the board in 10-of-11 outings for Rice, led by a pair of wins versus elders in May and August.

“That race is pretty strong for her, but she loves the mile and an eighth, mile and a quarter,” Rice said. “It’s hard to find those distances, so I put her in because of the distance as much as anything. She’s a 3-year-old filly and if she can be third in that race, that would bring a lot of value to her.”

Eric Cancel has the call from the outside post 8.

Leading the charge for the New York-breds on Sunday is Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford Robbins’ Maid of the Mist contender With the Angels, who is undefeated through two starts with open-lengths romps in both.

The Omaha Beach juvenile graduated on debut by 11 1/2 lengths sprinting six furlongs in August at the Spa and followed with a 9 3/4-length trouncing of the local Joseph A. Gimma when stretched out to seven furlongs last out on September 22.

Rice had originally considered sending With the Angels to the Grade 1 Frizette on October 5 after her Gimma victory but opted to give her more time.

“She’s training very well, and the time has helped her,” Rice said. “I don’t think she was ready for the Frizette at the time, and it was too much too soon. She’s coming into this in good order.”

Jose Ortiz will ride from post 3.

Rice also owns Amanda’s Folly, who takes on the nine-furlong Empire Distaff. The 4-year-old Mendelssohn bay eked out a neck score over Silver Skillet in last year’s off-the-turf running of the Ticonderoga and has one win in four starts since, taking a 10-furlong off-the-turf optional claiming tilt by 5 1/2 lengths last out on July 11 at Saratoga.

“She loves the distance. Maybe her speed figures aren’t quite fast enough to think she is going to get it done, but her workouts have been improving into this race,” said Rice. “I think she’ll run better than her odds may say.”

Amanda’s Folly will exit the inside post in rein to Ortiz.

A. Bianco Holding’s versatile Sheriff Bianco makes another sprint start in the 6 1/2-furlong Hudson on the heels of a game runner-up effort over course and distance on September 19.

“I tried to decide on the short or the long race with him and considering that he’s coming off of a short race, I figured let’s keep it consistent,” Rice explained. “There might be enough speed in there where he can close into a fast pace.”

The son of Speightster has finished on-the-board in races from 4 1/2 furlongs up to 1 1/8 miles, but his top wins have come at sprint distances when taking a pair of six-furlong open-company allowances at the Big A in 2022 and 2023. He is in search of his first win since the latter effort when scoring by a half-length last April in an off-the-turf sprint.

Ortiz has the call from post 2.

Rice’s weekend stakes action closes out with Barry Schwartz’s homebred Collaboration in the 1 1/16-mile Ticonderoga.

The daughter of English Channel, who is one of three entrants for Schwartz in the Ticonderoga, made her first three starts of the year against open company this summer with her best finish a stalking second, but relished a return to state-bred company last out with a 2 3/4-length score on October 13 that equaled a career-best 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I thought we could go to an ‘a-other-than,' but then decided we might as well give ourselves the opportunity to look at this race,” Rice said.

Collaboration will be ridden by Ortiz from post 4.

Rice kicked off her week at the Big A in style Thursday when Barry Schwartz’s New York homebred El Grande O returned from a more than seven-month layoff to win Race 7, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance sprint versus older open company.

The sophomore son of Take Charge Indy stalked the pace along the inside under Dylan Davis and swung around pacesetter Toxic Gray at the top of the lane under a strong drive. The stubborn frontrunner refused to yield through upper stretch, but El Grande O willed himself in front in the final strides to win by three-quarter-lengths in a final time of 1:16 flat. The winning effort registered a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rice said she was pleased with the effort and fitness from the colt, who she said tends to lean towards the heavy side.

“He’s like a little pony. He’s got a fat little belly on him and he’s easy to gallop like a little pony,” Rice said, with a laugh. “I thought maybe I should have waited for a longer race, but he was ready now, so I said, ‘let’s go with it.’ As a 2-year-old, he ran well enough going six furlongs. I thought he may be better at one turn than he is at two. I’m thrilled he was able to get it done at six and a half.

“I worked him about a month longer than I would most horses I’m bringing off the layoff just to make sure he was tight enough. We’ll just take it one race at a time,” Rice added in regards to a next start.

El Grande O put together a strong juvenile campaign that saw him notch state-bred stakes wins in the Bertram F. Bongard and Sleepy Hollow at the Big A, as well as runner-up efforts in the state-bred Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and open-company Skidmore at Saratoga. Earlier this year, he hit the board in a trio of Kentucky Derby prep races at the Big A when second in both the Jerome and Grade 3 Withers, and third in the Grade 3 Gotham in his last start before the layoff.