Belmont Stakes 2025: Pletcher enters Crudo and Uncaged

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will have two chances with Crudo and Uncaged as he tries to score his fifth victory in the $2 million Belmont Stakes, which will be run Saturday at Saratoga.

Pletcher’s past winners include the filly Rags to Riches in 2007 as well as colts Palace Malice in 2013, Tapwrit in 2017 and Mo Donegal in 2022.

Belmont Stakes: Journalism is confirmed after breeze.

Bobby Flay and James Ventura’s Crudo had his entry confirmed to the final leg of the Triple Crown after a strong breeze over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. He worked a half-mile in 48.86 seconds Sunday in company with Gate to Wire, who was clocked at 49.0. Gate to Wire will make his next start Saturday in the $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1).

Crudo broke off about one length back and traveled to the outside of Gate to Wire as New York Racing Association clockers timed Crudo through splits of 12.8 and 24.8 seconds and out in 1:01.6 and 1:14.6.

Crudo, a $350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. He has won 2 of 3 starts including a last-out, 7 1/2-length, pace-setting score in the restricted 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton on May 17 at Pimlico. That Preakness day effort doubled up on a similar frontrunning, 7 1/4-length graduation in April at Keeneland.

Pletcher said he liked the way Crudo galloped out in front of his work partner.

“I thought it was an excellent move. He worked really well, galloped out nicely. I was very pleased with him. He’s had a good couple weeks since he ran,” Pletcher said. “It’s undoubtedly a pretty strong field. The top three from the Derby look to be really good colts. We’ve always been really high on the way the horse trained. His last two races have been very good.”

Hall of Famer John Velázquez will retain the mount in the Belmont.

Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier’s multiple Grade 1 winner Fierceness brings consistent form to the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday. The race offers a win-and-you’re-in berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old City of Light bay often flashed brilliance in his early performances, including an 11 1/4-length, geared-down, debut romp in August 2023 sprinting six furlongs over muddy and sealed footing at the Spa. He was off the board in the Champagne (G1) after lunging at the start that October 2023 day but returned to winning ways with a 6 1/4-length score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to earn champion 2-year-old male honors.

Fierceness won 3 of 6 sophomore starts, taking the Florida Derby (G1) between a third the Holy Bull (G3) and a troubled 15th as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby.

However, since returning to action after the Derby, Fierceness has proven to be a consistent force in winning 3 of 4 starts with triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures according to Daily Racing Form. He took the Jim Dandy (G2) with a 103 Beyer and the Travers (G1) with a 111 at Saratoga last summer. His lone loss over that stretch came with a strong second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, matching up his 111 Beyer when he finished 1 1/2 lengths behind victorious Sierra Leone.

Fierceness returned a winner in May with a 1 1/2-length score in the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs to earn a 107 Beyer.

“He’s put that stigma of him being inconsistent behind him, and hopefully that continues,” Pletcher said. “Since the Derby, the Jim Dandy, the Travers, the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Alysheba coming back this year were all terrific. He’s a pleasure to train.”

Fierceness, bred by Repole Stable, is out of winning mare Nonna Bella, who was sired by Repole’s dual Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty, the victor in the 2011 Travers and 2012 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1). Nonna Bella is out of Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia, who was purchased by Repole Stable for $200,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale and subsequently produced 2016 Wood Memorial (G1) winner Outwork.

“We’re fortunate to be able to train a horse like this,” Pletcher said. “It’s cool, too, that we trained the mare, and this is Mike’s foundation family. I think that makes this even more fun.”

Fierceness has banked $4,315,320 through a 10: 6-1-1.