Pletcher updates on Fierceness, Mindframe, other top runners

Multiple Grade 1-winner Fierceness worked Thursday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap on June 7.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old City of Light colt breezed in company with graded-stakes-placed Tuscan Sky through a half-mile in 49.85 seconds, according to New York Racing Association  clockers. It marked the pair’s second work together in as many weeks after they covered the same distance in 49 flat last week over the Oklahoma.

“He looked great,” Pletcher said of Fierceness. “Another typical breeze from him, doing it very easily and impressively. I’m very pleased with him.”

Fierceness, winner of last year’s Travers (G1) at the Spa, made a successful seasonal bow last out on May 2 at Churchill Downs, returning with gusto to land a dominant 1 1/2-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba (G2) in setting a track-record final time of 1:40.66.

Pletcher said he is pleased with the way Fierceness emerged from the strong performance.

“He’s had a really good energy level, his appetite’s been great. He’s really matured as a 4-year-old and put on some weight,” Pletcher said.

When Fierceness contests the Met Mile, he will do so from Saratoga’s chute for the first time and will race at the distance for the first time since a distant off-the-board finish in the Champagne (G1) as a juvenile. The chute offers a unique configuration between one and 1 1/2 turns, and Pletcher said Fierceness has the mental and physical talent to rise to the occasion.

“I think the draw can be hugely important and how you get away from there,” Pletcher said. “He’s a really laid-back horse to train, but he turns it on when you ask him to.”

Pletcher said Tuscan Sky, owned by Fierceness co-owner Repole Stable, is likely headed to the Salvator Mile (G3) on June 14 at Monmouth Park after a last-out fifth on turf in the Fort Marcy (G2) on May 2 at Belmont at the Big A.

Along with Fierceness, Pletcher is considering Grade 1 winner Mindframe for the Met Mile but also has the son of Constitution under consideration for the Stephen Foster (G1) on June 28 at Churchill. Owned by Repole Stable with St. Elias Stable, Mindframe last was seen winning the seven-furlong Churchill Downs (G1) on May 3 in a determined neck victory over Banishing and Nysos with a deep-closing rally.

“We haven’t ruled anything out,” Pletcher said of Mindframe’s next start. “We’ll give him a breeze tomorrow and see how that goes, assuming the weather cooperates. Obviously, we hate to run him and Fierceness against each other if we can keep from it, but we’ll keep our options open for now.”

The Churchill Downs victory came in Mindframe’s second start this year after beginning the season with a win in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) in March. Last year, Mindframe finished a close second to Dornoch in both the Belmont Stakes and the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth before a nearly eight-month respite.

Pletcher said it was rewarding to see Mindframe notch a Grade 1 victory.

“That was big,” Pletcher said. “We wanted that Grade 1 win for him, and for him to do what he’s done to win at seven-eighths, a mile, a mile and a sixteenth, be second at a mile and a quarter... he, too, is a very special horse and is very versatile. He’s a pleasure to train.”

Also on the Thursday work tab were two top competitors for Whisper Hill Farm in Grade 1-winner Leslie’s Rose and dual graded stakes-winner Grand Sonata.

Leslie’s Rose, a last-out third in the 6 1/2-furlong Vagrancy (G3) on May 4 at Belmont at the Big A, worked a half-mile solo in 49.25 seconds as she targets a return to two turns in the nine-furlong Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 6.

“I thought she went well, galloped out good, so I think we’re on schedule for the Ogden Phipps,” Pletcher said.

Grand Sonata, a last-out sixth in the Elkhorn (G2) in April at Keeneland, breezed a half-mile in 50.42 in company with Grade 2-placed Noble Confessor. Grand Sonata, who won the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) in September at Kentucky Downs, is being pointed to the Belmont Gold Cup (G2) going two miles on June 6 with an eye toward a return to Kentucky Downs later this summer.

“It was a typical work for him on the dirt. He’s a better turf horse,” Pletcher said, “Right now, we are giving strong consideration to the two-mile race. He’s always stayed on pretty well, and it might be an interesting thing to try with him.”

The Belmont Gold Cup offers an automatic berth into the Group 1, Melbourne Cup (G1) on Nov. 4 at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria, Australia.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s multiple Grade 1-winner Locked, who finished fourth in the Alysheba, 6 3/4 lengths behind Fierceness, is targeting the 10-furlong Suburban (G2) on July 4 at the Spa.

“He’ll probably breeze next week,” Pletcher said. “It’s not until July 4, so we have a little time there.”

Locked, a dominant 8 1/2-length winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 1, trailed in last of six in the Alysheba. He attempted to make a five-wide bid into the stretch but could only pass two rivals and settled for fourth as his stablemate lowered the track record.

“I think it was just impossible for him to make up ground in that scenario,” Pletcher said of the Cigar Mile (G2) winner. “He was off the pace, and you just don’t see races run like that very often where they go a half in 48 (seconds) and then break a track record.”

Locked was an impressive juvenile, graduating by 7 1/4 lengths at second asking before a rallying half-length win in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and a game third behind Fierceness in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He missed most of his sophomore year but returned with aplomb to romp in an optional-claiming sprint at Belmont at the Big A and notch a 1 1/2-length win in the Cigar Mile to close out the short but sweet campaign.

“I think he got lost in the shuffle a little bit as a 3-year-old because he didn’t get started until so late, but he was a Grade 1-winner at 2, third in the Breeders’ Cup, and it’s not like he just got good,” Pletcher commented. “He was really good at 2, missed some time, and then came back impressively to win the allowance race and the Cigar Mile. Unfortunately, he didn’t get away well in the Pegasus (World Cup, G1) and still ran on to be second. The Santa Anita Handicap was an amazing win, and it was just a bad scenario last time. He’s a huge talent and is versatile as well. He’s a really good horse.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners also could be represented in the Ogden Phipps by Grade 1 winner Candied, a last-out winner of the listed Allaire DuPont Distaff on Friday at Pimlico. Co-owned with Bobby Flay, Candied returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since June with a three-length score engineered by Irad Ortiz Jr. She has been on the board in 10 of 11 starts, including a win in the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland as a juvenile.

“I haven’t spoken with Aron (Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners) since the DuPont, but we went in with the idea that we would see how she did and how she bounces out of it,” Pletcher said. “So far, she’s come back really well, so I think (the Phipps) is under consideration.”

Pletcher, a four-time winner of the Belmont Stakes, could be represented yet again in the final jewel of the Triple Crown as two of his pupils are possible for a start in the 10-furlong test.

Repole Stable’s Grande, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby because of a foot problem, recently arrived at Saratoga, as did Crudo, winner of the restricted Sir Barton on May 17 at Pimlico for owners Bobby Flay and James Ventura.

“Grande is good and galloped well this morning. We don’t have a schedule picked out just yet for him. We’re not ruling anything out,” Pletcher said. “I spoke to Bobby Flay a little bit and it’s the same thing (for Crudo). nothing is ruled out.”

Pletcher would look to add to past Belmont Stakes wins with Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, Tapwrit in 2017 and Mo Donegal in 2022.