The fields for the 14 races that comprise the Breeders’ Cup World Championships actually start to return into focus in summer season and fall. This common function will supply a snapshot profile of one of many earlier weekend’s standout stars, normally a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Problem Sequence winner, and whether or not I’m shopping for or promoting their possibilities to win Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.
This week we take a better take a look at DraftKings Travers Stakes winner Fierceness, who gained an exhilarating version of the “Mid-Summer season Derby” over Thorpedo Anna and now will practice as much as the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic.
Accomplishments: It’s not typically {that a} racehorse wins a marquee race and cements his credentials as a prime contender for an Eclipse Award but will get overshadowed in a lot of the post-race discission. That’s what is going on with DraftKings Travers Stakes winner Fierceness, and I feel it’s promoting what he completed brief.
There isn’t a doubt that Thorpedo Anna ran gallantly in ending second to Fierceness within the Aug. 24 “Mid-Summer season Derby” at Saratoga Race Course, and the filly ought to rightfully be lauded for a terrific effort when going through males for the primary time.
Fierceness, nonetheless, additionally stepped as much as the plate in a giant method within the Travers and proved he may run back-to-back monster races and excel at 1 ¼ miles. Given the 1 ¼-mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic Nov. 2 at Del Mar is the following cease for Fierceness, the Travers was a significant check aced that solidified the Metropolis of Mild colt as a critical win contender on the World Championships. It could have been tough to say that with any conviction earlier than the Travers.
Not solely that, however Fierceness additionally confirmed me one thing when it comes to tenacity. Thorpedo Anna, a rising star, got here at him determinedly via the ultimate furlong of the race and Fierceness fought gamely to prevail by a head.
Whereas the ultimate furlong in :13.27 was not particularly quick, Fierceness seized command within the race with a robust quarter-mile in :24.34 to open a one-length lead after one mile within the Travers. He then prolonged that lead with an eighth of a mile in :12.47 beneath jockey John Velazquez to construct a two-length benefit close to the eighth pole that helped him guarantee a victory.
The every-other-race is a dud narrative can now be put to mattress as Fierceness has gained three of his final 4 races. Make no mistake, Fierceness remains to be a bit inconsistent – clunkers in final 12 months’s Champagne Stakes and the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve in Could can’t be dismissed – however it certain looks as if Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher is likely to be discovering out the proper buttons to push on a gifted, however considerably enigmatic colt.
Wins within the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby and Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes Offered by Mohegan Solar bookended the Derby disappointment, and the expertise Fierceness has gained this 12 months has made him a greater racehorse.
“I feel he’s proven his versatility now,” Pletcher mentioned. “Within the Jim Dandy, he was in a position to type of stalk and that allowed Johnny to have faith that he may do this, and he may trip him accordingly within the Travers. I feel all of that’s simply expertise on his half and persevering with to bodily and mentally develop.”
Velocity Figures: Velocity figures have by no means been the difficulty for Fierceness. When he runs nicely, the Mike Repole homebred is a blazing quick racehorse – the quickest within the 3-year-old male division by a not insignificant margin. He equaled a career-best 110 Equibase Velocity Determine within the Travers and the 111 Beyer Velocity Determine earned within the Travers was a brand new prime, one tick higher than the 110 he earned within the Florida Derby. He’ll now have 10 weeks of relaxation earlier than the Breeders’ Cup Basic, so one other enchancment may be very potential.
Wanting Forward: There may be actually not a ton on the agenda for Fierceness apart from preserving him wholesome and completely satisfied for two ½ months main as much as the Breeders’ Cup Basic a bit over two months from now.
“He ran so nicely within the Jim Dandy with loads of time in between races, so I feel we really feel like we are able to most likely have him able to run his greatest,” Pletcher mentioned.
Pletcher mentioned he most likely will keep in Saratoga Springs via September and benefit from the cooler climate earlier than delivery to Keeneland Race Course for remaining preparations for the World Championships.
Fierceness doesn’t want to enhance all that a lot to win the Breeders’ Cup Basic. He’s elite when he brings his “A” race to the observe, so his possibilities relaxation primarily within the arms of Pletcher to have him primed for a peak effort Nov. 2 at Del Mar. He’s one of the crucial seemingly winners of the Breeders’ Cup Basic, so this long-time Fierceness doubter is shopping for inventory and consuming some crow.
