2023 Eclipse Awards: Fierceness

Brilliant on debut, a bust in the Grade 1 Champagne, Fierceness left his connections a bit baffled four weeks out from the Breeders’ Cup.

Opting to forge ahead and see what those weeks would bring, Fierceness convinced trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole to take a shot in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. Pletcher and Repole were rewarded for their persistence when Fierceness galloped to a 6 1/2-length victory in the Juvenile.

That victory will most likely reward Fierceness with the title of 2-year-old champion male when the Eclipse Awards are presented. Thirty-one of the previous 39 winners of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were honored with an Eclipse Award.

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That list includes 2010 juvenile champion Uncle Mo, who many people were reminded of when Fierceness won his debut by 11 1/4 lengths on Aug. 25 in the mud at Saratoga. Uncle Mo had won his debut by 14 1/4 lengths, also at Saratoga in late August.

While Uncle Mo went on to win the Champagne and then the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile handily that year, Fierceness floundered in the Aqueduct slop when he ran in the Champagne. He finished seventh of eight, beaten 20 1/4 lengths by Timberlake.

Following the Champagne, the decision was made to take Fierceness to Keeneland, where Pletcher had assembled all of his potential Breeders’ Cup horses, watch him train, and make a decision whether to continue on to California.

Fierceness trained well enough to continue, working well with fellow Breeders’ Cup Juvenile contender Locked, according to Pletcher.

On Breeders’ Cup Friday, the betting public wasn’t convinced, sending Fierceness off at 16-1. Fierceness stalked General Partner for six furlongs before moving past him. Confronted by Grade 1 winner Muth at the top of the lane, Fierceness ran away from him too for a decisive victory in a solid time of 1:41.90 for 1 1/16 miles.

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“The colt trained awesome all summer. He was monstrous in his debut, trained great leading into the Champagne. Let’s see how he trains,” Pletcher said. “He’s got to sell us on the idea of running and he did. Took a shot and it worked out. Beautiful trip, showed what he’s all about it.”

Fierceness, a son of City of Light, was bred by Repole. He campaigned his dam, Nonna Bella, a daughter of Stay Thirsty, who went 2 for 5 in her career. Fierceness is the first of three foals out of Nonna Bella to make it to the races.

Fierceness returned to the work tab on Dec. 12 at the Palm Beach Downs training center in South Florida. The plan is for him to make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park.

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