That was an awe-inspiring display.- trainer Todd Pletcher, with an impressive track record of victories in the Florida Derbys
Repole Stable's FIERCENESS impressively showcased his championship calibre on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The talented son of the City of Light - Nonna Bella (Stay Thirsty), dominated the competition, winning the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill' n' Dale Farms at Xalapa by an astounding 13 ½ lengths, setting a new record.
That was an awe-inspiring display. According to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, we witness a remarkable ability in the mornings when we exercise him. It was pretty puzzling that he could have performed better in his two races. He's brilliant and occasionally has less successful moments.
Pletcher secured his eighth victory in the Curlin Florida Derby, setting a new record for the most significant winning margin in the history of this prestigious one 1/8-mile race for three-year-olds. Fierceness dominated the competition, surpassing Empire Maker's previous record of a nine ¾ length victory in 2003.
The young victor of 2023 joined Pletcher's previous winners of the Curlin Florida Derby, including Forte (2023), Known Agenda (2021), Audible (2018), Always Dreaming (2017), Materiality (2015), Constitution (2014), and Quality Road (2009).
Fierceness, who placed third in the February 2 Holy Bull (G2) in his first race as a three-year-old after winning the Eclipse Award with a commanding six ¼-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita, secured 100 qualifying points for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. He is expected to be a top contender in the first leg of the Triple Crown and will likely be a favourite among bettors.
"In terms of talent, he possesses all the necessary qualities," Pletcher remarked. "Similar to all other participants in the Derby, it is essential to have a favourable starting position, a smooth journey, and a fondness for Churchill Downs - these factors greatly contribute to success."
Despite of his underwhelming performance in the Holy Bull, Fierceness was entered as the top choice with even-money odds in a field that was narrowed down to nine horses after the early morning scratches of his stablemate Bail Us Out and Seminole Chief. The Repole Stable homebred delivered an impressive performance, captivating his supporters and all onlookers. He seized control early on and remained unchallenged throughout the race. The intensity was evident as fractions of 24.06 and 47.50 seconds were set for the initial half-mile. Grand Mo the First and Catalytic were in hot pursuit, but eventually, the winner, guided by the skilled Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, pulled away with ease.
It was pretty simple. This is precisely what I anticipated from him in our previous encounter. He had been working tirelessly. He performed admirably today, and I allowed him to excel. They were allowed to retrieve him, and he completely controlled the entire race. As he reached the backstretch and transitioned into the turn, he accelerated, prompting me to allow him to continue at that pace. He felt at ease," Velazquez stated. At the quarter pole, I gave him a gentle encouragement, and he immediately responded. It was pretty simple. This is the reason for our presence. This is the ultimate goal we strive for, to seize moments like this. This is genuinely thrilling.
The race covered a distance of 1 1/8 miles and was completed in a time of 1:48.22. He comes from a lineage of Mike Repole breeding. Repole acquired the colt's second dam, Nonna Mia, in 2008 for a sum of $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton August yearling auction. In just seven races, this impressive filly, sired by Empire Maker, has achieved stakes-placed status not once, not twice, but three times. Furthermore, she has already proven herself as a successful broodmare, with four of her offspring hitting the racetrack. Among them is the remarkable Outwork, a Grade 1 champion who triumphed in the prestigious Wood Memorial and has gone on to establish himself as a prosperous sire. Nonna Mia is also the mother of Nonna Bella, who has triumphed twice in five races for Repole. Fierceness, on the other hand, is her third offspring and the first one to compete. Nonna Bella is sired by Stay Thirsty, who had a successful racing career under Repole's ownership and emerged victorious in the prestigious Cigar Mile (G1) race.
Intensity has rebounded from a lacklustre performance in the past. Following a triumphant debut at Saratoga last August, he placed seventh on a wet Aqueduct track in the Champagne (G1) on October 7. Of course, the Pletcher trainee proved his worth with an impressive victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Catalytic, who was experiencing his first stakes race in just his third career start, managed to secure second place with Julien Leparoux as the jockey, finishing 2 ½ lengths ahead of Grand Mo the First. Grand Mo the First narrowly edged out Conquest Warrior, the 5-2 second choice, to claim third place.
Tami Bobo, Julie Davies, and George Isaac's Catalytic (Catalina Cruiser) won his first race, triumphing by an impressive margin of 5 ½ lengths at Gulfstream in October. Returning after a five-month break, he went on to secure a commendable second place in a March 8 optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs.
He's an excellent horse. Under less-than-ideal conditions, he displayed great courage today. I held great admiration for certain horses in the race, and he performed exceptionally well in securing second place," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. expressed, following Catalytic's acquisition of 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The champion could have been surpassed. We should strive to enhance our performance significantly from this. Hopefully, he will emerge successfully, and we will have a generous five weeks to continue envisioning.
Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. is optimistic that Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo), who narrowly missed victory by a neck and secured third place in the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (G3), has a strong chance of qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.
I'm incredibly pleased with the race. He accumulated a total of 25 points today. "He has a total of 40 points," Barboza stated. There is a strong possibility that he could qualify for the Kentucky Derby.