Repole Stable's star dirt horse aims for glory against City Of Troy and global contenders at Del Mar.
The excitement is palpable as Fierceness, a top contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic, gears up for a thrilling showdown against Europe’s City Of Troy at Del Mar. Owned by Mike Repole's Repole Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness has already made his mark at the Breeders' Cup, having convincingly won the Juvenile at Santa Anita last November.
After a disappointing outing as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, Fierceness has rebounded impressively, winning his last two races, including the prestigious Grade One Travers Stakes at Saratoga. With a strong performance there, he now emerges as a leading hope for American fans as he takes on formidable international competitors, including top Japanese middle-distance horses.
"Fierceness is doing great, and Todd says he is training fantastically ahead of the Classic," said Ed Rosen, general manager of Repole Stable. "The time off since the Travers has done him well, and we're very pleased with how he is heading into the race. I think he is America's best hope, alongside the Japanese horse Forever Young and City Of Troy representing Europe. Those three seem to be the big contenders."
Despite earlier skepticism surrounding Fierceness's form, Rosen is confident that he has proven himself with two strong performances leading into the Classic. "It's exciting to have a horse who was a two-year-old champion with the possibility of becoming a three-year-old champion and winning the Classic. That would be a tremendous accomplishment," he added.
In addition to Fierceness, Repole Stable will also be represented in California by two promising juveniles, Mentee and Tenacious Leader, who will compete in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Mentee, a full-brother to Fierceness, comes into the one-mile race with confidence after winning the Grade Three Futurity Stakes earlier this month.
Rosen expressed pride in having both juveniles at the Breeders' Cup, stating, "We look forward year after year to competing at this level, so having two-year-olds at the Breeders' Cup is gratifying and exciting."
As the countdown to the Breeders' Cup Classic continues, Fierceness stands ready to assert his dominance on the world stage, backed by a team that believes in his potential to capture the coveted title.
