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Todd Pletcher, a Hall of Fame trainer, has a strong lineup for the Belmont Stakes, with up to four possible contenders, including Fierceness, Antiquarian, and the undefeated Mindframe, all of whom were on the work tab Friday morning. Pletcher has a successful history at the Belmont Stakes, having previously won with Rags to Riches (2007), Palace Malice (2013), Tapwrit (2017), and Mo Donegal (2022).
Fierceness, a Kentucky homebred from Repole Stable, returned to the work tab after an off-the-board finish in the Kentucky Derby, covering a half-mile alongside Mindframe on Friday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma dirt training track. The champion 2YO colt Fierceness is aiming to start in the Belmont Stakes on 8th June at Saratoga, while Mindframe, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, may potentially start at either the Belmont or at Monmouth Park in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus on June 15, the local prep for the Haskell traveling nine furlongs on July 20.
“We haven’t decided yet. The Belmont is in play, the Pegasus is in play,” Pletcher said regarding Mindframe. “We’ll just survey how the race is shaping up and talk to the ownership and see what they want to do.”
After the initial renovation break at 7:30 a.m. EDT, the pair, the first of Pletcher’s set, went out and jogged up to mid-stretch before returning to their starting position. Throughout their exercise, Fierceness remained on the outside as NYRA clockers recorded their splits of 13.4, 25.6, and 50.0 seconds for the half-mile. They galloped out in 1:02.4, 1:14.6, and 1:28.4 over the fast footing.
Pletcher said he liked what he saw from both Fierceness and Mindframe, the latter of whom is undefeated through two starts.
“I thought it was a very good work from both horses. They seemed to be doing it well in hand coming to the wire,” said Pletcher. “We kind of let Mindframe do a little more in the gallop out than Fierceness – he had a work last week, and he’s more lightly raced. I was very pleased with both horses. It seemed like Fierceness was moving really well and did it easily.”
Fierceness, who secured Group One victories in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Florida Derby, was the top pick at post-time for the Kentucky Derby following his impressive 13 1/2-length win in the Florida Derby. However, he stumbled at the start with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard and couldn't mount a challenge while three-wide into the stretch, ultimately finishing far behind the triumphant Mystik Dan.
“I think if you look at it, the one thing he did – which he has done in the three races he’s lost – is he kind of hopped a little bit at the start and didn’t get away as cleanly,” said Pletcher. “Johnny thought maybe the horse overreacted to him asking him to get into the race, and at that point he thought he got a little keen with him.”
Pletcher said he opted to give the City of Light bay an extra week of rest after the Derby considering he does not need to condition for additional ground in this year’s 10-furlong Belmont Stakes.
“I thought after the Derby, we shipped back here, and he was a little quiet for a few days,” said Pletcher. “It took him a little while to get back in the feed tub, and I started looking at it and said, ‘You know what, I think two works is good enough.’ He looks super fit and is coming off a mile and a quarter race. Maybe if it was at Belmont and a mile and a half, I might have breezed him last week, but I thought I could give him the extra week and not worry about it.”
Antiquarian, owned by Centennial Farms, recently completed his first timed workout since his impressive victory in the Gr.3 Peter Pan, where he triumphed by three-quarters of a length on 11th May at Belmont. Under the guidance of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., Antiquarian trained alongside Candied, who was ridden by exercise rider Hector Ramos in preparation for the upcoming US$500,000 Gr.1 Acorn on 7th June at Saratoga.
According to NYRA clockers, the pair covered a half-mile in 48.65 seconds on the Belmont Park dirt training track.
“Obviously, he is a colt, and she is a filly,” said Green regarding the work partners. “So, it is hard to judge them against each other, but she did it nicely, too.”
Centennial Farms, known for Colonial Affair's 1993 Belmont Stakes victory, seeks more success at the historic event. Candied, from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, missed the Kentucky Oaks due to being listed as an also-eligible, but now aims for the U$500,000 DK Horse Acorn.
Trainer Pletcher expressed satisfaction with Candied's progress and performance. Protective, owned by Repole Stable, showed promise in recent races, finishing third in both the Wood Memorial and the Peter Pan.
Pletcher shared that they are considering Protective for the Belmont Stakes, assessing his condition and the competition before making a decision. Additionally, Pletcher has several other potential starters for the Belmont Stakes racing festival at Saratoga.