What a ride!
Fierceness stumbled at the start from the inside post, nearly crashed into the temporary rail, was expertly straightened out by jockey John Velazquez and went on to weave his way to victory over favorite Journalism in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Saturday.
Once again, it was hard to determine whether Fierceness would bring his ‘A’ game to the West Coast and take on local hero and fan favorite Journalism, bet down to 2-5 in his first race against older horses.
This was Fierceness at his best, though. After two recent losses, in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and a fifth in the Whitney Stakes (G1), the 4-year-old City of Light colt put on a brilliant performance and won by 3 ¼ lengths.
In defeating a gallant Journalism, Fierceness ($5.20 for a $2 win bet) earned a fees-paid berth to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at this same track on Nov. 1 as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In" series.
“This was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen,’’ winning owner Mike Repole said. “Not just by my horse but any horse. He shipped out there on Tuesday and just raced a race we’ll talk about for years.”
The 34th edition of the Pacific Classic may have lost some luster earlier in the day when trainer Bob Baffert’s Nysos – the morning-line favorite was scratched – but Fierceness made this version one to remember.
Ultimate Gamble was back 6 ½ lengths back in third, followed by Indispensable, Lure Him In, Midnight Mammoth and Tarantino. Winning time was 2:01.00.
After Fierceness was straightened out, he stalked in fourth from the inside, went between rivals in the backstretch, split the leaders in the far turn with a bold move, kicked clear into the stretch and easily held off Journalism, winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1).
By virtue of his win in the Haskell, Journalism already clinched a spot in the field for the BC Classic.
“He shows up every time,’’ majority owner of Journalism Aron Wellman said. “We didn’t think he’d be that far back (more than seven lengths along the backstretch). It takes a while for him to get going. But Johnny and Fierceness found a seam at the 3/16th pole. Todd and Johnny are all class. If you’re going to lose, lose to a champion. We’ll be back.”
Fierceness, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and 2023 2-year-old champion, also won the 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Travers Stakes (G1). He’s won 7 of 12 races with earnings of more than $5.1 million.
Favorite Motorious ($5.60) was declared the official winner of the $150,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3) after first-place finisher Reef Runner was disqualified for interference with another horse just after the start. The win earned Motorious a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) on Nov. 1.
Seven-year-old gelding Gold Phoenix won the Del Mar Handicap (G3) for the fourth year in a row and earned a fee-paid berth in the Breeder’s Cup Turf (G1) on Nov. 1.
A well-timed, last-to-first run by Ireland-bred Bellezza ($7.50) resulted in a 2 ¼-length win in the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2) and a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
Trained by Miguel Clement, the 4-year-old filly ridden by Jaime Rodriguez raced comfortably at the back of the seven-horse field. After a mile, she began moving up, raced into third in the stretch and rallied in deep stretch to defeat Amber Cascade, with Be Your Best third and favorite La Mehana (also trained by Clement) fourth.
Winning time for the 1 3/16 miles on the firm turf was 2:14.80.
Tommy Jo ($4), the even-money favorite in a field of seven, rolled to a 6 ½ length victory over Percy’s Bar in the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G2) for 2-year-old fillies and earning a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar on Oct. 31.
Trained by Pletcher, the filly ridden by Kendrick Carmouche is now 2-for-2 and covered the 7 furlongs in 1:23.39. Her next start could come in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 3, Pletcher said after winning a record-extending his seventh Spinaway.
Mythical, who came into the race 3-for-3, finished fifth.
There were three scratches: Meringue, Ornellaia and Steer Clear.
Bear River ($40.30), sent off at 19-1, led from the start and held off favorite Howard Wolowitz by a half-length in winning the $2 million Kentucky Turf Sprint (G2) and earn a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred ridgling trained by Keith Desormeaux raced just off the rail most of the way in the 6-furlong sprint, then withstood an inside push by Howard Wolowitz in the final strides for the surprise win.
Bear River, ridden by James Graham, came into the race off a victory in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint Stakes at Ellis Park on Aug. 3. He’s now 7-for-22 and boosted his earnings to $1.7 million from $543,000.
