Repole Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), expected to vie for favoritism in next Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, turned in his final breeze Friday ahead of the $7-million centerpiece of championship weekend, going a half-mile in :48.98 over the Oklahoma training track.
With his regular work rider Danny Wright in the irons, the homebred began his work slightly behind a workmate, drew alongside at the entrance to the stretch and was in front at the line before galloping out five furlongs 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 trainer Todd 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 conditioner believes he has Fierceness–last-out winner of the GI Travers Stakes–as good as he can have him for the Classic.
“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.”
Fierceness could not be looking any better coming into BCC.. wow…good luck going against him 🏇🏾💨🍁🎪 pic.twitter.com/gB3AcnEdul
— Mark Robbens (@MarkAntone23) October 25, 2024
Fierceness is the full-brother to fellow Repole runner Mentee, who earned a free pass into the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint when winning the GIII Futurity Stakes, but will instead try a mile in the GI 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.”
That shipment will also include Donegal Racing's Futurity runner-up Gate to Wire (Munnings), who draws into the Juvenile Turf Sprint with the withdrawal of G2 Lowther Stakes heroine Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
“I thought he worked very well with the addition of blinkers last week,” Pletcher commented. “He, too, has all of his preparations done. We are happy that he drew in.”
Pletcher said that the Classic-bound 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit) will likely breeze at Belmont Saturday morning.
Joseph Pair Work Over the Oklahoma
Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) earned the four-furlong bullet at Oklahoma on Friday morning, stopping the timer in :47.93 in the company of GIII Adirondack Stakes winner The Queens M G (Thousand Words).
The 5-year-old, most recently second to Tapit Trice in the GII Woodward Stakes, was cross-entered for the Classic and the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with a first preference for the main event, but with news breaking Friday that 2023 National Treasure (Quality Road) would not be entered, Skippylongstocking will take his place in the eight-furlong contest, Daily Racing Form reported. The multi-millionaire was third in last year's Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.
“I thought he worked good ,” said Washonn Rochester, assistant to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “We worked him in company with a decent filly. He did what we wanted to do and galloped out nicely. 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.”
Skippylongstocking (outside) | Sarah Andrew
Rochester also oversaw the work of Batucada (Union Rags), runner-up to Raging Sea (Curlin) in the GII Ruffian Stakes who covered her half-mile in :48.20 in splits of:12 3/5 and :23 3/5 before pulling up five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 according to NYRA clockers. She is entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.
“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.”
Though she owns the credentials for the Breeders' Cup, The Queens M G is being pointed for the Nov. 2 Tempted Stakes going a mile at Aqueduct.
May Day Ready Tunes Up For Juvenile Fillies Turf
May Day Ready (Tapit), who punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in the GII Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 4, went a half-mile in :49.60 alongside stablemate Change Your Name (Blame) over the Belmont dirt training surface Friday morning under the watchful eye of trainer Joe Lee.
“She backed up to the seven-eighths and galloped to the half-mile pole,” Lee explained. “They were basically head-and-head the whole way. 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 is the mount of 15-time Breeders' Cup winner Frankie Dettori.
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