Saratoga: Pletcher rolls with Fierceness into Grade 1 Whitney

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

All trainers wish they had the decisions Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher must make as he manages two of the nation’s finest older horses in Fierceness and Mindframe.

He opted to hedge his bets by entering both at Saratoga in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes in the event of an injury or illness. He also made it clear that only Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Fierceness will start. He said Mindframe, who is 3-for-3 this season, will be pointed toward the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

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Pletcher is doing everything possible to map out a course for each stellar 4-year-old that will keep them apart until an inevitable confrontation in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

“I wouldn’t call it a problem. I don’t think that’s the right description,” he said. “It creates some challenges as far as trying to keep them separated and keeping in mind that you are trying to do what’s best for each individual horse.”

Fans might think ownership interests dictated the Whitney approach since Mike Repole, Pletcher’s long-time, big-spending client, has a major financial stake in both stars. Fierceness is a Repole homebred, and he co-owns Mindframe with Vinnie and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable.

Pletcher emphasized that issues such as spacing between races, race distances and the best path to the Classic for each horse dictated his actions.

“Would that have been different if we didn’t have both of them?” he asked rhetorically. “I’m not sure. I think it might have been the way we played it anyway.”

Even for a trainer of Pletcher’s standing, it is rare to have two older horses of such quality. Many high-caliber 3-year-olds are whisked off to the breeding shed after successful campaigns.

“I would describe it as a pleasant challenge to keep them both pointing in the right direction,” he said. “Hopefully, they are both healthy and doing well, and we can let them decide on Breeders’ Cup Classic day.”

The Whitney, which affords the winner an automatic berth in the Classic, always has been a prime target for Fierceness. He is rated as a slight favorite at 9-5 on the morning line with defending Classic champion Sierra Leone at 2-1. Fierceness drew post 9 with John Velázquez aboard.

Fierceness was brilliant in his 4-year-old debut, setting a Churchill Downs track record of 1:40.66 in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba (G2) on May 2. He was upset by Raging Torrent in the June 7 Met Mile (G1) in his only other outing. Pletcher believes breaking from the rail out of the Wilson chute contributed to that defeat, Fierceness’s first setback in four Saratoga starts.

“I said that before the Met, so it wasn’t sour grapes afterward. I’m not a fan of how it’s set up,” he said. “We knew we had to come out of there running. Obviously, Raging Torrent kind of beat us to the punch, and we had to steady a bit and try to regain our position. It got kind of rough doing that, and he got pushed around a little bit.

“I just think it took him out of his rhythm, but he still ran a decent second. It wasn’t up to his top standards, but it was a solid effort, and he’s come back and trained well for this.”

The City of Light colt had four workouts ahead of the 1 1/8-mile Whitney with two four-furlong drills bookending a pair of five-furlong moves.

Pletcher was eager to give Mindframe extra time following a victory in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster on June 28 at Churchill Downs. He also liked the idea of running the Constitution colt at 1 1/4 miles in the Jockey Club, the same distance as the Classic.

“Hopefully that serves as a good prep for the Classic,” he said.

Trainer John Gaver Sr. won the Whitney five times in a stretch that extended from 1942 to 1958. Pletcher can tie him for the all-time lead if Fierceness delivers as a solo act.