Fierceness looks to rebound in G2 Jim Dandy
At 4h59, on July 27, 2024 • By Saratoga Race Course
Multiple Grade 1-winner Fierceness looks to return to the win column in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun, a nine-furlong main track test for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.
The Jim Dandy will serve as the local major prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 24.
Repole Stable’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness was last seen attending the pace before finishing a distant 15th as the beaten favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the City of Light bay entered from a 13 1/2-length romp in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Florida Derby in March at Gulfstream Park.
“We are happy with him. We gave him plenty of time after the Kentucky Derby, and I think it has done him well,” said Pletcher. “He has put on some weight and has trained really well.”
The Florida Derby performance earned a career and field-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure, which improved upon his previous-best 105 for a 6 1/4-length victory over now multiple Grade 1-winner Muth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Santa Anita Park. Both wins came with Hall of Famer John Velazquez at the helm.
Fierceness, who was scratched from the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell at Monmouth Park in favor of this race, completed his final preparations with a half-mile breeze in 49.61 seconds Sunday over the Spa main track.
“We weren’t looking to do a whole lot. It was kind of a final easy half-mile before the race,” Pletcher said. “I thought it was executed very well. It looks like he’s in good order.”
Out of the winning Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, Fierceness, a Kentucky homebred, won his debut by 11 1/4 lengths in August in his lone appearance at the Spa. He boasts a lifetime record of 6-3-0-1 with just over $1.7 million in earnings.
Fierceness, assigned 124 pounds, will exit the outermost post 6 under Velazquez.
