Friday works: 22 graded winners include Fierceness, Saudi Crown

Fierceness, who was beaten as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby and then removed from Belmont consideration, returned to the work tab for the first time in three weeks on Friday. The champion 2-year-old, trained by Todd Pletcher, went four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Saratoga. Pletcher is pointing him toward the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 20 at Monmouth.

Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown returned to the work tab for the first time since a 12th-place outing in the Godolphin Mile (G2) on March 30. The Brad Cox trainee covered three furlongs in 37.0 seconds on the Churchill Downs dirt. A 4-year-old son of Always Dreaming, Saudi Crown won at the top level in the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and also won the Louisiana (G3) at Fair Grounds in January.

These 22 graded-stakes winners worked across the country on Friday:

Fierceness (City of Light), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Florida Derby, 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), worked four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 18 works at the distance. His previous work was 21 days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he placed 15th in the Kentucky Derby going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 4 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Chi Town Lady (Verrazano), a Grade 1 winner (2022 Test), worked five furlongs in 1:00.4 at Keeneland on Friday morning. It was the second fastest of six works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Keeneland. In her last start she placed fourth in the Derby City Distaff (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 4 for trainer Wesley Ward.

Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Pennsylvania Derby), worked three furlongs in 37.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the second fastest of 17 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed 12th in the Godolphin Mile (G2) going about one mile on the dirt at Meydan Racecourse on March 30 for trainer Brad Cox.

Timberlake (Into Mischief), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Champagne), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the 20th fastest of 88 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 30 for trainer Brad Cox.

Astronaut (Quality Road), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2022 Red Smith, 2021 Del Mar Handicap), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Woodbine on Friday morning. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Woodbine. In his last start he placed sixth in the San Gabriel (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Chatalas (Gun Runner), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Chandelier), worked four furlongs in 47.8 seconds at Churchill Training on Friday morning. It was the second fastest of 12 works at the distance. Her previous work was 14 days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she placed second in the Blue Norther going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 29 for trainer Mark Glatt.

Everso Mischievous (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Forty Niner), worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the 77th fastest of 88 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 31 for trainer Brad Cox.

Instant Coffee (Bolt d’Oro), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Kentucky Jockey Club), worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 at Belmont Park on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 15 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed ninth in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on April 20 for trainer Jose D’Angelo.

Integration (Quality Road), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Hill Prince), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Fair Hill on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 10 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fourth in the Turf Classic (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Churchill Downs on May 4 for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Louisiana Derby), worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 18 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he placed second in the Pimlico Special (G3) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Pimlico on May 17 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Legend of Time (Sea The Stars), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Pennine Ridge), worked five furlongs in 1:10.8 on turf at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the fourth fastest of five works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Pennine Ridge (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Belmont at the Big A on May 25 for trainer Charles Appleby.

Main Event (Bernardini), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Ft. Lauderdale), worked four furlongs in 52.8 seconds on turf at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the slowest of 26 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fourth in the Mr. Steele going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park on May 25 for trainer Fernando Abreu.

Watsonville (Jack Milton), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Mathis Mile), worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Santa Anita on Friday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 17 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Mathis Mile (G2) going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 for trainer Mark Glatt.

Background (Khozan), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Longacres Mile Handicap), worked four furlongs in 48.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the 26th fastest of 88 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Training. In his last start he placed fifth in a claiming race going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 18 for trainer Michael Puhich.

Chop Chop (City of Light), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Bewitch), worked four furlongs in 50.7 seconds on turf at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the 17th fastest of 26 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed second in the Keertana going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Churchill Downs on May 25 for trainer Brad Cox.

Deterministic (Liam’s Map), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Gotham), worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 on turf at Saratoga on Friday morning. It was the fastest of five works at the distance. His previous work was 13 days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed fifth in the Peter Pan (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on May 11 for trainer Christophe Clement.

Fast as Flight (Air Force Blue), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Modesty), worked four furlongs in 51.6 seconds on turf at Woodbine on Friday morning. It was the ninth fastest of nine works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Modesty (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Churchill Downs on May 3 for trainer Martin Drexler.

Happy American (Runhappy), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Louisiana), worked five furlongs in 1:03.4 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the slowest of 27 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 31 for trainer Neil Pessin.

Masen (Kingman), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Poker), worked four furlongs in 47.4 seconds at Keeneland on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 62 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he placed eighth in the Danger’s Hour going one mile on the turf at Aqueduct on April 20 for trainer Chad Brown.

Red Flag (Tamarkuz), a Grade 3 winner (2020 Bob Hope), worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday morning. It was the 23rd fastest of 34 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on April 7 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Runninsonofagun (Gun Runner), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Bold Ruler), worked four furlongs in 50.3 seconds at Belmont Park on Friday morning. It was the 96th fastest of 112 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fourth in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on May 26 for trainer John Toscano Jr.

Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Fred W. Hooper), worked five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 27 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed second in the Ghostzapper (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on March 30 for trainer Brian Lynch.