Fierceness powers to victory in $1 million Pacific Classic
Fierceness shipped in from New York, overcame a nasty swerve at the start and then went about the business of winning in impressive fashion Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
The City of Light 4-year-old earned his seventh win in 13 starts and picked up a check for $600,000 for his 3 3/4-length triumph, pushing his career earnings to $5,155,320. He ran the 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track in 2:01.00 and paid $5.20 for $2 as the second betting choice in the field of seven.
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The race lost some of its luster Saturday morning when trainer Bob Baffert scratched morning-line favorite Nysos because of a bruised heel. Baffert said the 4-year-old colt would be re-aimed to next month’s 1 1/8-mile Goodwood Stakes (G1), a Santa Anita qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Fierceness was given an outstanding ride by John Velázquez for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Stable and Coolmore. It was not without early drama.
“At the start he attempted to duck into the temporary railing. I got him out of there, but he overreacted by pulling in the other direction,” Velázquez said. “I wanted to stay off his mouth, so I had to sit on him a little, but he got straightened out going into the first turn.”
The wayward start gave Pletcher’s traveling assistant Sophie Green a familiar reason for concern.
“It had me a little bit worried there,” she said. “He’s had bad breaks before in the past when he was 2 years old and I almost felt like that again, but Johnny knew what to do and kept him going.”
Fierceness raced in mid-pack early while Lure Him In and then Midnight Mammoth set early fractions of 22.99 and 45.84 seconds. All the while, Preakness and Haskell (G1) winner Journalism, the 2-5 favorite in his first try against older rivals, raced last in the field of seven open-company starters.
“I was able to save ground behind the leaders,” Velázquez said. “On the backstretch, he was keen to go on. That’s why I moved between horses going into the turn. I had to move as early as I did because he was so keen. Today I wanted to get him off the bridle a little and let him finish.”
Picking off horses one by one up the backstretch, Fierceness took the lead through three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.26. Journalism, who carried six fewer pounds than his older rivals, had moved up to sixth and really began to make up ground in the second turn.
Both horses found something more through a mile in 1:35.70, and Fierceness maintained his advantage through the finish.
Now the winning connections can set their sights on the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. The Pacific Classic was a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the $7 million race Nov. 1. Last year Fierceness finished second to Sierra Leone in the Breeder’s Cup Classic.
Journalism finished seconds, 6 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Ultimate Gamble.
Fierceness paid $5.20, $2.20 and $2.10; Journalism $2.10 and $2.10; and third-place Ultimate Gamble $5.20.