As helpful and essential because the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional could also be, there ought to be a extremely intriguing race-within-the race through the Nov. 2 showdown at Del Mar.
On Aug. 25, a day after Fierceness’s dramatic victory by a diminishing head over the gallant filly Thorpedo Anna in a blockbuster version of the $1.25 million DraftKings Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, the battle for the champion 3-year-old male had a tenuous chief who could possibly be toppled relying on what occurs down the highway in America’s richest race.
Primarily based on the measuring stick of what have you ever performed these days for me, Repole Secure’s Fierceness leads the pack together with his victory within the Aug. 24 “Mid-Summer season Derby” and the Jim Dandy Stakes Offered by Mohegan Solar earlier than that, which put an finish to his inconsistent, win-one-lose-one methods.
But based mostly on graded stakes wins, Fierceness and Dornoch are even. Each have two Grade 1 wins and a Grade 2 victory this 12 months. Fierceness owns a win for coach Todd Pletcher within the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby Offered by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa to associate with his scores within the Travers and Jim Dandy, whereas Dornoch, skilled by Danny Gargan, triumphed in a Triple Crown check, the Belmont Stakes, together with the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes and the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes.
A Traditional victory can be sport, set, and match for both of them, however a robust second or third within the 1 ¼-mile check in opposition to older rivals might put considered one of them excessive with the Eclipse Award voters.
“Properly, I’m biased however I’d put him on the prime of the category,” Pletcher stated Sunday morning about Fierceness. “I feel the Traditional will resolve it. Voters are likely to have short-term reminiscences in terms of awards and so they put extra emphasis on what occurs within the fall versus the spring. But on this division, nobody has completely locked down management and the Traditional will carry a ton of weight. There’s most likely an excellent argument that whoever locations finest amongst us would be the champ.”
Pletcher stated Fierceness, proprietor Mike Repole’s homebred son of Metropolis of Mild, got here again fantastic from the race. Pletcher stated almost certainly Fierceness will keep at Saratoga by means of September and do his remaining coaching at Keeneland earlier than transport to Del Mar the week of the Traditional.
Gargan stated Dornoch was flat after wins within the Belmont and Haskell. He got here out of the race fantastic, however Gargan stated he’ll prepare the son of Good Magic as much as the Traditional.
“He ran just a little flat. He fought two onerous races. We’ll reboot and are available again for the Breeders’ Cup,” Gargan stated. “He wants just a little time. We’ll maintain him up right here. The climate will quiet down and hopefully we will get him again up. He was fourth however didn’t run badly. I’d like to be fourth within the Travers and win the Belmont yearly. We’re happy with him and what he has completed and completely happy to be part of it.”
Gargan echoed the significance of the Breeders’ Cup Traditional on the voting for the 3-year-old male champion.
“I feel it’s right down to us and Fierceness and whoever beats who within the Breeders’ Cup will get it,” Gargan stated. “Will probably be enjoyable to look at.”
Bred by Grandview Equine and a full-brother (identical dam [mother] and sire [father]) to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Dornoch is owned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Secure, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables.
Sierra Leone as soon as once more positioned in a serious 3-year-old check, ending third within the Travers, winding up 1 ¾ lengths behind Fierceness as a stunning 8-5 favourite after being pegged because the fourth selection within the morning line behind Dornoch, Fierceness, and Thorpedo Anna.
Coach Chad Brown stated the $2.3 million son of Gun Runner most likely will prepare as much as the Traditional, the place he might conceivably wind up successful the Eclipse Award within the remaining leap. A Traditional victory would give him two Grade 1 wins, the Traditional and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, plus a Grade 2 win within the Risen Star Stakes, matching the totals of Fierceness and Dornoch. As well as, Sierra Leone was second within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve and Jim Dandy and third within the Belmont and Travers. He has by no means completed worse than third whereas Dornoch has been unplaced thrice this 12 months and Fierceness was fifteenth within the Kentucky Derby.
“He has to win the Breeders’ Cup Traditional after which you can also make a case for him,” Brown stated. “However Fierceness has come to kind. He’s run very quick numbers and is excellent. He’s been very properly managed.”
Brown stated Sierra Leone ran a “stable” race within the Travers however was unable to reel in Fierceness and Thorpedo Anna, who had been nearer to a average tempo than his late-running colt.
“He ran one other stable race and sadly got here up brief,” Brown stated. “The shortage of tempo didn’t assist him and Saratoga might not be his favourite observe. Fierceness was a deserving winner, however for our horse I anticipated rather more tempo than [a :48.10 half-mile], however it’s what it’s when you could have a better like him who could be tempo dependent.”
Sierra Leone, bred by Debby Oxley, is owned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, and Peter Brant.
Coach Ken McPeek reported that Thorpedo Anna got here out of the Travers fantastic and the daughter of Quick Anna was on target for the Sept. 21 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing.
“She ran tremendous and we’re very happy with her,” he stated. “A number of modifications right here and there and perhaps she will get up.”
Whereas the battle for the 3-year-old male crown is up for grabs, Thorpedo Anna has clinched the 3-year-old filly title and the three-time Grade 1 winner would certainly be a preferred Horse of the 12 months selection if she closes out the 12 months with wins within the Cotillion and Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
“It’s as much as different individuals however she’s aligned for all that,” McPeek stated in regards to the Horse of the 12 months risk. “Let’s get by means of the subsequent race first, however she’s been wonderful all season and yesterday was no exception.”
