Last year's champion 2-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), a very disappointing 15th as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby last out, showed up in a big way Saturday, defeating favored 'Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) by a length in a fantastic renewal of the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. It was another 5 3/4 lengths back to Batten Down (Tapit) in third.
Drawn widest of all in post six, the 9-5 second-choice exited the stalls running beneath John Velazquez and was perfectly placed in second throughout behind longshot pacesetter Pony Express (Gun Runner). Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and this year's GI Florida Derby winner made his move and took command around the far turn as narrow Kentucky Derby runner-up and GI Belmont Stakes third-place finisher Sierra Leone began to wind up from last.
The Repole Stable homebred left the door wide open off the turn, however, kicking for home in the five path. Guided to the fence by Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone came rolling along the inviting opening along the inside and the stage was set.
Fierceness began to drift badly down the lane and Sierra Leone had all the momentum and looked well on his way. Fierceness had plenty left in the tank though and was able to knuckle down gamely to get the money.
“Super pleased,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said after recording a record-extending eighth Jim Dandy win. “He kind of got the trip we were hoping for. We knew what our strategy was, the thing is you don't know what everyone is else is going to do. It looked like there were a couple of other horses with potential speed, so we had to break, get to the first turn in good position and get in a good rhythm, and that is what we were able to do.”
After bypassing the Belmont Stakes to give Fierceness more time following his dismal performance on the first Saturday in May, it isn't exactly a guarantee that we see the talented bay return in the GI DraftKings Travers Aug. 24, Pletcher warned.
“I don't know,” Pletcher said of the Travers. “We kind of talked about this horse seems to do better with a little bit of extra time in between races, so we won't make any decisions right away, but just play it by ear.”
Velazquez added, “I expected Sierra Leone to come out, so I went out. I just let him do it. I wanted to get him out there, and when I looked, the other horse came inside so I came back in a little bit just to make sure he saw him. I had horse left. He is incredible. This was just incredible.”
Pedigree Notes:
The Jim Dandy winner is one of three graded winners and nine black-type winners from the first two crops of Lane's End stallion City of Light, a four-time Grade I winner who finished second to champion Whitmore in the 2018 GI Forego Stakes in his only lifetime start at Saratoga. City of Light exited the Forego to win his next two, also his final career starts, in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.
Fierceness's dam, Nonna Bella, is a half to 2016 GI Wood Memorial Stakes winner and WinStar stallion Outwork, while his granddam is a half to MGSW and Airdrie stallion Cairo Prince. Nonna Bella's 2-year-old Mentee, a full-brother to Fierceness, set a new track record (:56.97 for five furlongs) at the Belmont at the Big A meet June 16 in his lone start to date and was scratched the morning of the GIII Sanford Stakes with a fever as the morning-line favorite two weeks ago.
Nonna Bella has a yearling filly by Caravaggio and a 2024 colt by Uncle Mo born Mar. 24. All, like Fierceness, are Repole Stable homebreds. The mare was bred back to Curlin for 2025. She is by Stay Thirsty, another Repole runner and winner of the 2011 GI Travers Stakes, who now stands in California. Stay Thirsty has two stakes winners out of his daughters; both are by City of Light.
What a race by FIERCENESS, the son of @LanesEndFarms stallion City of Light!
He pulled away down the stretch to win the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes pres. by @MoheganSun with a perfect ride by @ljlmvel for @RepoleStable! pic.twitter.com/kD83hEW78M
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) July 27, 2024
Saturday, Saratoga
JIM DANDY S. PRESENTED BY MOHEGAN SUN-GII, $500,000, Saratoga, 7-27, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.15, ft.
1–FIERCENESS, 124, c, 3, by City of Light
1st Dam: Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty
2nd Dam: Nonna Mia, by Empire Maker
3rd Dam: Holy Bubbette, by Holy Bull
'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $275,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2-year-old colt, 7-4-0-1, $1,978,850. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sierra Leone, 124, c, 3, Gun Runner–Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon. ($2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, LLC and Peter M. Brant; B-Debby M. Oxley (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Batten Down, 120, c, 3, Tapit–Close Hatches, by First Defence. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-William I. Mott. $60,000.
Margins: 1, 5 3/4, 5 1/4. Odds: 1.80, 0.80, 10.40.
Also Ran: Seize the Grey, Gould's Gold, Pony Express.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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