Pletcher provides updates on Fierceness, Mindframe, more

Fierceness, a Repole Stable homebred who is the reigning champion 2-Year-Old Colt, worked a half-mile in 51 seconds flat Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga in preparation for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell traveling nine furlongs on July 20, at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the City of Light bay worked in company with graded-stakes-winning turf mare Surprisingly. Also notable on the Oklahoma dirt training track work tab Friday was Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables recent Grade 2 Suburban-winner Crupi, who covered a half-mile in 52.85 seconds in company with multiple graded stakes-placed turfer Talk of the Nation.

“Both works were probably better than the times suggest – finished up well and galloped out strongly,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said that both Fierceness and Belmont Stakes runner-up Mindframe are likely to start in the Haskell.

“I’ll talk to Mike (Repole) but right now we’re pointing Fierceness and Mindframe towards the Haskell,” Pletcher said.

Fierceness was a 6 1/4-length winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Santa Anita Park to cap his championship campaign. He returned to action with a pair of starts at Gulfstream Park, finishing a troubled third in the Holy Bull (G3) in February before romping to a 13 1/2-length score in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 30.

The talented bay went to post as the mutuel favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs where he finished 15th. Fierceness trained towards the Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course, but Pletcher ultimately decided the colt needed more time.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Mindframe was an impressive winner of his first two starts, graduating by 13 3/4-lengths on debut in March at Gulfstream Park and following with a 7 1/2-length romp on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.

The Constitution colt made the lead at the stretch call of the 10-furlong Belmont Stakes at Saratoga but was green in the lane and missed by a half-length to a resurgent and more experienced Dornoch.

Pletcher said Mindframe has exited the Belmont Stakes in good order.

“He’s been galloping well this week. He looks good and his overall condition is excellent coming out of the race. We’ll look for a breeze next weekend,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher won Monmouth’s local prep for the Haskell last weekend with Spendthrift Farm’s Tuscan Sky, who captured the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus by 6 3/4-lengths over Domestic Product. The top-two Pegasus finishers received free entry and start fees for the Haskell.

Pletcher noted that Centennial Farms’ Antiquarian, who ran fifth in the Belmont Stakes, is enjoying a freshening, and further said that he will re-group with Repole Stable’s Belmont Stakes sixth-place finisher Protective and target a maiden event at the Spa.

Pletcher indicated that Crupi is pointing to the $200,000 Brooklyn Invitational (G2) on July 5 going 1 3/8 miles at Belmont at the Big A, which could serve as a bridge to the $1 million Whitney (G1) on August 3 at Saratoga. The nine-furlong Whitney for older horses offers a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

If Crupi makes the Whitney, he is likely to meet his dual graded stakes-winning stablemate Bright Future, who returned from a seven-month layoff to capture the Salvator Mile (G3) last weekend at Monmouth Park.

Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Bright Future won 3-of-6 starts last year led by a nose score over Proxy in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. He closed to finish sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita.

With Hall of Famer Javier Castellano up in the Salvator Mile, the 5-year-old Curlin chestnut was shuffled back along the rail in the final turn but regained his momentum with a powerful inside run to score by 1 3/4-lengths.

“He got to spinning his wheels a little bit on the far turn and retreated a couple spots,” Pletcher said. “Once he was able to get straightened away and things opened up on the inside, he re-rallied and finished strongly. He just lost focus for a little bit on the far turn.

“We were encouraged the way he had been training leading up to it, but it’s always great to see them come back and perform well,” Pletcher added. “Hopefully, it’s the start of a good summer and fall campaign for him.”

Repole Stable’s New York homebred Carmen’s Candy Jar, who debuts in the Sunday opener at Belmont at the Big A, is named in honor of Carmen M. Barrera, NYRA’s longtime director of horsemen’s relations who passed unexpectedly in 2019. The promising filly is listed at 9-5 on the morning line with Irad Ortiz, Jr. to ride in the five-furlong main track sprint for state-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Barrera’s infamous candy jar was always stocked with peanut M & M’s, a tradition maintained by NYRA’s Horsemen’s Relations supervisor Alysse Jacobs.

“Carmen was terrific to me and Mike and really all the horsemen and owners. She’s greatly missed. She was a good friend to all of us,” Pletcher said.

Carmen’s uncle Laz Barrera campaigned Affirmed to the 1978 Triple Crown. Her father, Luis, was a trainer as well, campaigning Summing to victory in the 1981 Belmont Stakes. Her cousin, Juan Dominguez, is NYRA’s Sr. Director of Safety and Racing Operations.

“Anyone who knew Carmen, knew how special she was. She was NY tough but extremely sweet and had a huge heart,” Repole said on the social media platform X. “She always took care of me and so many horsemen. She was (a) dear friend to me and many others.”

Repole’s X posting included a photo of Barrera celebrating the Repole-campaigned Stay Thirsty capturing the 2011 Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga.

“For me, the most meaningful and special picture of her was when Stay Thirsty won the Travers, she turned around to my box at Saratoga cheering and celebrating for me even before Stay Thirsty crossed the wire,” wrote Repole. “Carmen is very loved and dearly missed. Continue to Rest in Peace Carmen.”

Carmen’s Candy Jar has trained steadily over the Oklahoma dirt training track for her debut, including a half-mile breeze in 49.95 seconds on June 17.

“She’s not a real big filly, but she’s always trained very forwardly and seems to have her mind on business. Hopefully, she will make a solid debut,” Pletcher said.

Carmen’s Candy Jar, by Vino Rosso, is the first foal out of the unraced Uncle Mo mare No Mo Shopping, who is a half-sister to dual graded stakes-winner Always Shopping and a full sister to graded stakes-placed Mo Shopping. Her second dam is multiple graded stakes-placed Stopshoppingmaria.