Take a look at Fierceness’ past performances, jockey, trainer, morning-line odds and full analysis heading into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Fierceness has been down this road before and seems to enjoy Southern California. He won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in 2023 at Santa Anita, finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last year at Del Mar, and won the Pacific Classic (G1), also at Del Mar, on Aug. 30, even after veering in after the start leaving from post 1.
On Nov. 1 at Del Mar, Fierceness has a chance to avenge his Classic defeat to Sierra Leone in what looks to be one of the deepest fields in the history of the 1 ¼-mile race that usually decides Horse of the Year.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher was not thrilled Fierceness drew the rail again, but Del Mar has extended the portable rail, and the hope is Fierceness won’t be distracted in the early going.
Nonetheless, some background:
As a 2-year-old in 2023, Fierceness was sent West for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and blew away the field by 6 ¼ lengths to clinch Eclipse Award as 2-year-old male champion.
A year later, at the end of a 3-year-old campaign that had its ups and downs – edging Thorpedo Anna in the Travers months after running 15th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) as the favorite -- he showed up at Del Mar and ran a strong race but was beaten by Sierra Leone in the Classic.
At the end of the summer, Pletcher wanted to test his 4-year-old star in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Good call. Fierceness, under jockey John Velazquez, came through with a 2 ½ length victory over Preakness (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism despite the early veering at the start.
And now he’s back. Pletcher has to feel pretty good since he has two others in the Classic: Mindframe and Antiquarian.
Fierceness worked 4 furlongs in 48.00 at Saratoga on Oct. 24 before arriving at Del Mar.
Fierceness has become more predictable over the past year with four wins and a pair of seconds from seven races. He’s versatile as he can sit off the pace or stalk the leaders. If he takes to the Del Mar surface like he did in the Pacific Classic, he’ll be right there at the finish.
Notes: Pletcher ranks third among leading Breeders’ Cup trainers with $29 million in earnings; he has 15 Breeders’ Cup wins, including a Classic win with Vino Rosso in 2019. Velazquez leads all jockeys in Breeders’ Cup earnings with $39.3 million, most mounts with 225, and his 21 victories, including the 2020 Classic aboard Authentic, rank second to Mike Smith.
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