Whereas particular comeback races have but to be determined, proprietor Mike Repole has a number of major targets in thoughts for his steady’s two stars who each turned age 4 on Jan. 1.
Repole bred and owns Eclipse Award winner Fierceness and is the co-owner with Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Secure of a number of Grade 1-placed Mindframe, each educated by Todd Pletcher.
Relating to Fierceness, Repole mentioned the son of Metropolis of Mild shall be pointed to the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap (the Met Mile) on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in addition to the Saratoga’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes in August and a return journey to Del Mar for the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic. Fierceness completed second within the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic in his most up-to-date begin.
“My three targets for Fierceness aren’t any secret,” Repole mentioned, referring to the Met Mile, Whitney, and Basic. “You may put in two or three extra races however these three are the targets.”
Repole projected Fierceness would have one or two preps in April or Could earlier than the Met Mile. The colt underwent hind ankle surgical procedure within the weeks following the Breeders’ Cup. Repole additionally mentioned he can be open to operating Fierceness in a grass stakes throughout his remaining 12 months of racing earlier than turning into a stallion at Ashford Stud.
“If I’ve a chance and Todd does not vote it down, I might prefer to run Fierceness in a mile turf race,” Repole mentioned. “I believe he is that good and that proficient that he may very well be a Grade 1 turf winner.”
Mindframe, who has not raced since ending second within the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes on July 20, looms a candidate for the $12 million Dubai World Cup April 5 at Meydan Racecourse.
“He’ll have a prep and the primary massive race may very well be the Dubai World Cup. I wish to deliver me, Todd, and Mindframe to Dubai,” Repole mentioned.
Mindframe, a Maryland-bred son of Structure, has raced solely 4 instances however has runner-up finishes in each the Haskell and the 2024 Belmont Stakes.
“He is grown up. He is stuffed out. He appears to be like wonderful. He may very well be the perfect 4-year-old on the market. He is already run some ridiculous pace figures, and he is solely going to get greater and higher,” Repole mentioned. “You’d need to win the Whitney and/or Basic with Mindframe, however for the remainder of the 12 months we will hold him and Fierceness separated.”
Mindframe breezed three furlongs in :38.89 Dec. 27 at Palm Seashore Downs in South Florida.
The self-appointed commissioner of the Nationwide Thoroughbred Alliance advocacy group, Repole mentioned Mindframe wouldn’t be entered within the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup offered by Baccarat at Gulfstream Park except he turns in a sequence of spectacular works within the coming weeks.
Repole listed Crupi as his possible starter within the Pegasus World Cup. Crupi, who turned 5 on Jan. 1, is owned by Repole and Viola and is a Grade 2 winner who can be Grade 1-placed.
