Repole Stable's Fierceness, the anticipated favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1), had a stellar final workout for the classic by breezing four furlongs April 26 in :48 4/5 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez at Churchill Downs.
He was one of four potential Derby starters to work Friday in Kentucky, the others being Endlessly (half-mile in :47 4/5 at Churchill Downs); Epic Ride (half-mile in :51 1/5 at The Thoroughbred Center), and Seize the Grey (five furlongs in 1:00 at Churchill Downs).
Not having as many Kentucky Derby qualifying points as others, Epic Ride and Seize the Grey currently need defections to gain entry into the 20-horse starting gate. Even if not among the top 20, they could be entered in the Derby and potentially draw into the race as an also-eligible.
Friday's workout from Fierceness, his first at the Louisville, Ky., oval after spending the winter and early spring at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida, was punctuated by a sparkling gallop out that left workmate Agate Road far behind. Track clockers timed Fierceness galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 3/5, followed by six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 and seven furlongs in 1:26.
Breezing outside his workmate, a graded stakes winner on turf and graded placed on dirt, Fierceness was clocked with a first quarter in :24 4/5 before pulling away by a little more than two lengths by the finish with a follow-up :24 quarter-mile.
FIERCENESS worked a half-mile in company with AGATE ROAD for HOF trainer Todd Pletcher. #KyDerby150 🌹
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 26, 2024
⏱️ :48.80@JoeyDaKRacing & @RosieNapravnik take you through his work. pic.twitter.com/c5d2Oix8bj
"He actually galloped out faster than the work. ... I told Johnny he worked him seven furlongs today," owner Mike Repole said outside the colt's barn at Churchill Downs.
Velazquez and Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who have five Kentucky Derby wins between them, were also enthused. Velazquez noted he was "very happy," and Pletcher remarked that Fierceness "did it effortlessly, came back and cooled out quickly."
Asked if he had any angst leading up to the important workout, Pletcher replied: "It's one of those you could stay up at night thinking about. You just hope everything goes smoothly and you execute it properly, which I think we did. As far as important works go, they don't get any more important than this one."
Derby Status for Endlessly Still Pending
Amerman Racing's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Endlessly was out right as the track opened at 5:15 a.m. ET to complete his final published workout ahead of a start at Churchill Downs May 4. Which race that will be, the Kentucky Derby (G1) or American Turf (G2T), is still undecided 24 hours before the entry will be made April 27.
"No decision has been made, we'll keep all our options open," said trainer Michael McCarthy. "I'll have to speak with (co-owner) Mr. (John) Amerman a little bit later on today."
Regardless of which race is chosen, McCarthy was pleased with the work. Sitting outside of a stablemate, Endlessly went an "exaggerated" half-mile before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 and six furlongs in 1:13 4/5. It was one of the better recent dirt workouts from Endlessly, who has not yet raced on a dirt surface.
Jockey Umberto Rispoli, who will ride the colt in his upcoming start, was in town for the work before flying back to California soon after.
"I thought it was very good," McCarthy said. "The horse is in very good order. Plenty fit and plenty happy.
"He's very good for next weekend, no matter which race he runs in. My job is to get him there healthy and happy, and he seems like he's that."
McCarthy thinks highly of the Oscar Performance colt, who has only lost once in six starts, a 3 1/2-length defeat when eighth in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). All of his four starts at 2 were on turf, and his two starts this year have come on the synthetic Tapeta tracks at Golden Gate Fields and Turfway Park.
"I think he's amongst the conversation of the best 3-year-olds of 2024, albeit on the turf and on the synthetic," McCarthy said. "Looking past Saturday, there's plenty of big days for him."
