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| Staff Writer |
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Mike Repole has once again made a surprising move as the 2024 Triple Crown season nears its historic conclusion. Despite owning last year's 2YO champion male Fierceness and breeding the son of City of Light, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, Repole has passed the baton to Mindframe.
With Fierceness slow to recover from a disappointing 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, Mindframe will now represent Repole and Co. in the upcoming US$2 million Belmont Stakes.
"We have the 2YO champ in Fierceness and then there's a horse like Mindframe and by Saturday he might be the best horse in the crop," Repole said about a lightly raced 3YO he co-owns with St. Elias Stables. "He's 2-for-2 and the way he won both was incredible."
Fierceness was expected to dominate the season, but now Repole's Triple Crown hopes rest on the inexperienced Mindframe. Mindframe will try to win an American classic in his first stakes race, a feat not achieved by a maiden since 1933. Despite his lack of accomplishment, he's the 7-2 second choice in a field of 10.
"We have a lot of confidence in his abilities but we also have concerns about his lack of experience. He's giving up a lot of experience and seasoning to some really good horses," Pletcher said.
"If he continues to run the way he has or maybe takes a step forward, he has shown me that he has as much talent as anyone in the field. But again, this is asking a lot for his third start. He's going from seven furlongs, to a mile and a sixteenth, to a mile and a quarter. But we wouldn't be trying this if we didn't think he was capable."
The Maryland-bred son of Constitution made a remarkable debut earlier this year , winning a maiden race at Gulfstream Park. He followed up with another impressive victory on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
Just two weeks ago, the plan was to run Fierceness in the Belmont along with Protective, a Repole Stable maiden with Grade Two and Grade Three stakes placements.
It was initially planned for Mindframe to participate in the Pegasus Stakes as preparation for the Gr.1 Haskell Stakes.
However, the plans changed after Mindframe displayed impressive performance in workouts with Fierceness.
According to Repole, "Mindframe worked with Fierceness, and no one ever outworked Fierceness, but he did, and it told us two things. One, maybe Fierceness needs more time, and two, how can you not take a chance with a horse who will be the second choice in the Belmont Stakes?
“If Mindframe wins by five or is fifth by five, we won't regret our decision because he's in the right place. He fits, and I don't think anyone in there can match his speed figures."
Mindframe drew the outside post in the expected field of 10, allowing jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to assess the race.
"We love his post," said Repole. While Mindframe prepares for the Belmont, Fierceness will be awaiting the Haskell Stakes. Repole expressed optimism about Fierceness' potential, stating, "If we have him figured out, I think we'll know after his next start."
"He's been frustrating, no question about it. He's been brilliant at times and not so brilliant at others," Pletcher said.
"We're thankful for the times he has been great and we're just trying to get him to be more consistent."
Fierceness entered the Kentucky Derby with an impressive 13 1/2-length victory in the Gr.1 Florida Derby , coming off a surprising third-place finish in the Gr. 3 Holy Bull Stakes and a dominant 6 1/4-length win in the Juvenile.
However, his Derby performance was disappointing as he fell back sharply after a mile and finished exhausted.
As Saratoga gears up for a Triple Crown race, Repole, known for revolutionising attitudes and business practices in the sport through the National Thoroughbred Alliance, is looking to make history with a highly talented yet inexperienced allowance winner.