Breeder's Cup Day One: Fierceness Overpowers Rivals in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

After a confounding performance as the 1-5 favorite in the Champagne (G1) last month, Fierceness came through with an overpowering victory in the $2 million Breeder’s Cup Juvenile (G1) over a fast track on a sunny Friday at Santa Anita Park.

With a 6 ¼-length romp over a top-flight field of 2-year-olds, Fierceness moves into the role of early favorite for next year’s Kentucky Derby (G1).

Dismissed at 16-1 odds in a field of 10, Fierceness ($35 on a $2 win bet), under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, came roaring around the final turn and rolled to the easy victory over Muth, with 2-1 favorite Locked third, and 3-1 Timberlake fourth.

Pletcher, who won his fourth Juvenile, also sent out Locked and Noted. Four-time Juvenile winning trainer Bob Baffert sent out Muth (the second betting choice), Prince of Monaco, and Wine Me Up.

In the Champagne at Aqueduct on Oct. 23, the Mike Repole bred and owned colt did not take to the sloppy track and finished more than 20 lengths behind the winner Timberlake. But all went well in training toward the Juvenile and Fierceness covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.90.

“The Champagne was a head-scratcher. We had to go with what we’ve been seeing from him all summer,’’ Pletcher said. “Mike’s not afraid to take a shot. He said, ‘Let’s train the horse; if you like the way he’s training let’s give it another try.”

They did. And they won, giving Pletcher his 15^th Breeders’ Cup win and Johnny V his 20^th.

Repole and Pletcher won the 2022 Juvenile with Forte, who became a 2-year-old champion but did not run in the Derby or Preakness due to safety protocols that forced him to be scratched from the Derby. In 2010, Repole, Pletcher, and Velazquez won the Juvenile with Uncle Mo, who was scratched from the Derby just before the race with an illness.

Breeder’s Cup Day One Results

Results of Juvenile Turf, Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Fillies Turf, Juvenile Turf

In the four other Breeders’ Cup races on Future Stars Friday: Ireland-bred Big Evs ($8.40) won the $1 million Juvenile Turf (G1); Just FYI ($16) won the $2 million Juvenile Fillies (G1); Hard to Justify ($20.20) won the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1); and France-bred Unquestionable ($5) won the $1 million Juvenile Turf for Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) takes center stage on Saturday, the premiere race of nine on the second day of the 14-race, $31 million 40^th edition of the event. Baffert’s Arabian Knight is the favorite in a field of 12.

Racing recaps:

$1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1): Big Evs ($8.40)

The international contingent started strong as it did a year ago as Ireland-bred Big Evs took command at the top of the stretch and held off Valiant Force for a half-length victory in the first of 14 Breeders’ Cup races over two days.

Big Evs covered 5 furlongs on a firm turf course in :55.31 seconds. It’s the first BC victory for both trainer Michael Appleby and jockey Tom Marquand. The win improved Big Evs’ record 6-4-1-0 and earnings of $748,283 for owners RP Racing.

“He’s been a superstar all year and to come here and put in a performance like that is unreal,’’ Appleby said. “We’ll enjoy it as it’s a dream to be here, never mind go and win.”

The 2-1 favorite No Nay Mets finished fourth for trainer George Weaver. His Crimson Advocate was sixth and Amidst Waves was 10^th.

$2 million Juvenile Fillies (G1): Just F Y I ($16)

Just FYI overtook 4-5 favorite Tamara and gave Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his 13^th win in a Breeders’ Cup race – and first in the Juvenile Fillies.

With Junior Alvarado riding, the daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify broke from the No. 12 post but had a smooth trip to the front and held off 17-1 shot Jody’s Pride by a neck.

Tamara, a daughter of three-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder, led until the turn for home but faded to seventh. Candied finished third.

Just FYI, owned by George Krikorian, is now 3-for-3 with earnings over $1.3 million, and top contender for the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly.

The winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.58.

Richard Mandella, who trains Tamara, said: “We’ll have to back up and give her a little chance to catch up, start over again. Simple as that. We’ll hope everything is fine when she gets back. (Jockey Mike Smith) said she was pretty tired.”

$1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1): Hard to Justify ($20.20)

Hard to Justify, a son of Justify, swept to the lead in mid-stretch and outdueled favorites Porta Fortuna and She Feels Pretty to win by a half-length. Portuna Fortuna edged She Feels Pretty for second by a neck.

The win was the sixth in the Juvenile Fillies for trainer Chad Brown and his 17^th in a Breeders’ Cup race. Flavien Prat won his fifth BC race, and first in the Juvenile Fillies.

Winning time over a firm course was 1:34.42 as Hard to Justify improved to 3-0.

“There was mild concern at the three-eighths marker when they started to stack up outside of her,’’ Brown said. “I thought maybe that post (No. 12) would do her in, but I knew she had some fight in her. It’s just a matter of when he wanted to use that last bit of energy that she would have. Sure enough, she had plenty; more than I thought.”

$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1): Unquestionable ($5)

Trainer Aidan O’Brien, who had his morning-line favorite River Tiber scratched, still pulled off a 1-2 finish with 3-2 favorite Unquestionable winning by 1 ½ lengths over stablemate Mountain Bear (the second longest shot in the field at 22-1).

“He’s a very tough horse who we’ve always had a lot of faith in,’’ O’Brien said. “Ryan (Moore) gave him an unbelievable ride in a great position from an early stage from a tough draw. He won very well in the end, and I’m delighted.”

The winning time for the mile was 1:33.65. For O’Brien, it is his 17^th BC race win and 13^th for Moore. The two have teamed up to win the Juvenile Turf six times.

Friday scratches aplenty

With enhanced safety protocols, there were quite a few Friday morning “vet scratches,’’ based on decisions by an appointed team of observers.

Juvenile Turf Sprint:
Givemethebeatboys (15-1) and also-eligibles Hedwig (20-1) and April Vintage.

Juvenile Fillies:

Alys Beach (30-1)

Juvenile Fillies Turf:
Also-eligibles Go With Gusto (15-1) and Mo Fox Givin (30-1).

Juvenile:
The Wine Steward, 8-1 and Echo Neo (30-1).

Juvenile Turf:
River Tiber (3-1), Liam’s Journey (30-1), and Grand Mo the First (20-1).