Champagne Fave Fierceness Tops Saturday BC Preps in NY

Owner Mike Repole was brimming with enthusiasm heading into Travers Stakes (G1) weekend at Saratoga Race Course, eager as could be to see his champions Forte and Nest race.

About 10 minutes after the Travers, a dejected Repole stood off to the side of the winner’s circle and while glumly watching a replay of the Midsummer Derby lamented, “I came into the weekend with Nest and Forte and came out of it with Fierceness .”

On a weekend at the Spa that saw Nest finish third in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) and Forte check in fourth in the Travers—both as favorites—it was Repole’s homebred 2-year-old colt Fierceness that provided a ray of sunshine.

Making his debut on Aug. 25 (Travers eve) at Saratoga, Fierceness produced an electrifying 11 1/4-length victory in the son of City of Light ‘s career debut for trainer Todd Pletcher while covering the six furlongs in a speedy 1:09.52.

Now, six weeks later, much more will be learned about Fierceness when he receives a major class test Oct. 7 in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds at Belmont at the Big A, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge series race that will award the winner a guaranteed, fees-paid spot in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

The big question is whether Fierceness is cut in the same mold as Uncle Mo , who was a dazzling, double-digit debut winner for Repole and Pletcher and the won the 2010 Champagne in his next start, followed by the Juvenile, which secured an Eclipse Award as the champion 2-year-old male.

Or is he another Spa flash-in-the-pan who returns to earth when faced with added distance?

Much more will be known after Saturday’s test at a one-turn mile.

“He’s trained well since his debut, which was very impressive and we’re looking forward to the Champagne,” Pletcher said. “Like all of them, he needs to improve, but we were super happy with the debut.”

With The Weather Channel’s forecast for Queens calling for an 86% chance of rain Saturday and a 77% chance on Oct. 6, the possibility of a wet track should not pose much of an obstacle for the son of the Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella. His Aug. 25 victory came over a muddy, sealed racing surface.

Yet even if the rain stays away, Pletcher said a fast track would be fine for the juvenile runner whose workouts on a dry tracks before his debut led to him being a 6-5 favorite for his first start.

“He trained well on a fast track, so he should do well on a dry track,” said Pletcher, a six-time Champagne winner.

Repole has already benefitted from Fierceness’s debut as the sparkling performance led to a half-brother to Nonna Bella by Into Mischief bred by Repole selling for a sale-topping $3 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with Repole retaining a 50% ownership.

Another promising maiden winner in the field of eight is Klaravich Stables’ General Partner .

Trained by Chad Brown, the son of Speightstown recorded a front-running four-length Sept. 2 victory in his seven-furlong second start after finishing fourth in his July 22 debut.

General Partner, Maiden Win, Saratoga, September 2 2023 — Photo: Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta

General Partner after his maiden win at Saratoga Race Course

In both starts the colt, bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and the Speightstown Syndicate, was bumped at the start.

“He has been training very, very well. I’ve been pleased with him since the maiden breaker,” said Brown, who is seeking a third straight Champagne win and fifth overall. “He ran very well and I think he’s sitting on another forward move.”

Brown and Pletcher have combined for eight Champagne victories since 2010.

The field also includes WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Hopeful Stakes (G1) runner-up Timberlake , a son of Into Mischief trained by Brad Cox (who also trains Champagne starter Air Cav ), and Barry Schwartz’s New York-bred stakes winner El Grande O , a Take Charge Indy colt trained by Linda Rice.