Fierceness Gets Back to Work at the Spa

Repole Stable's homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) returned to the worktab Thursday for the first time since his determined one-length victory in the GII Jim Dandy July 27, posting a half-mile in company with graded stakes winner Surprisingly (Mastery) in :49.59 (89/172) over the Saratoga Race Course main track.

“Perfect,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said of the work. “We originally scheduled it for tomorrow, but that [the weather] looked dicey, so we went today. He did really good and seems very happy. He went with Surprisingly for a nice, steady half and was moving well. It's what we were looking for and he did it very willingly.”

Fierceness, the reigning champion 2-year-old colt, is now likely pointing for the GI Travers Aug. 24 after the defection of stablemate Mindframe (Constitution), who has been sidelined due to bone bruising.

Work of the Day from #Saratoga—Fierceness (Outside) and Surprisingly worked 4 Furlongs in 49.59 on August 8th, 2024, for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/uyGCUW0x6x

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) August 8, 2024