Fierceness, a bay colt born on March 28, 2021, in Kentucky, has become a dominant figure in American Thoroughbred racing. Bred and owned by Mike Repole, he hails from a successful lineage, being the offspring of the Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, who has also produced two othe2r foals, including a full brother to Fierceness and a Caravaggio filly born in 2023. Repole, who also campaigned Nonna Bella and Stay Thirsty, is a shareholder in City of Light, the sire of Fierceness, who is set to stand at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, next year for a stud fee of $35,000.
Trained by the renowned U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Fierceness is part of a stable that has seen significant success. His full brother, Mentee, made an impressive debut on June 15 at Aqueduct Racetrack, winning a five-furlong maiden special weight in a track-record time of 56.97 seconds, under the guidance of jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher.
2023: Two-Year-Old Season
Fierceness began his racing career on August 25, 2023, in a maiden special weight event at Saratoga. Breaking from post six in a field of ten, he quickly took the lead and, on a sealed, muddy track, left his competitors behind, winning by an impressive 11¼ lengths in a time of 1:09.56.
Following this debut, Fierceness was entered into the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack on October 7. Despite starting as the 11-20 favourite, an awkward start out of the gate caused him to finish seventh. However, after a thorough check-up revealed no issues, his connections decided to aim for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
On October 28, Fierceness competed in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park, with John Velazquez taking over as jockey. Despite being a 16/1 shot, Fierceness delivered a stunning performance, staying close to the pace set by General Partner and then surging ahead in the stretch. He won by a remarkable 6¼ lengths in a time of 1:41.90, showcasing his potential as a future champion. This victory earned him the title of Champion Two-Year-Old Male at the Eclipse Awards in January 2024.
2024: Three-Year-Old Season
Fierceness kicked off his three-year-old campaign on February 3, 2024, in the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Despite being the odds-on favourite, he finished third after a challenging race where he locked strides with the leader, Hades, around the final turn. The final time was 1:46.07.
However, Fierceness quickly rebounded in the Grade I Florida Derby on March 30. With John Velazquez aboard, he led from start to finish, setting impressive fractions and pulling away in the stretch to win by a record margin of 13½ lengths in a time of 1:48.22. This victory secured him 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby qualification, making him one of the leading contenders.
Fierceness continued his winning streak in the 2024 Travers Stakes at Saratoga. The race, which featured some of the top three-year-olds, including the leading filly Thorpedo Anna, saw Fierceness take control at the top of the stretch. Despite a late charge from Thorpedo Anna, Fierceness held on to win by a head, giving owner Mike Repole his second Travers victory and adding to the Hall of Fame credentials of jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher. This win marked Fierceness’s first consecutive victories in his career, bringing his total earnings to over $2.6 million.
Future Plans
Following his Travers Stakes victory, Fierceness is being aimed at the Breeders' Cup Classic. Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole plan to spend most of September in Saratoga before preparing for the Classic, likely at Del Mar, continuing their successful strategy from the previous year.
As Fierceness moves forward, he stands as a testament to careful breeding, expert training, and the resilience needed to become a champion in the competitive world of Thoroughbred racing.