DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – As far as trainer Todd Pletcher is concerned, the 2024 Kentucky Derby can’t get here soon enough – especially not after watching his Florida Derby winner and likely Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness breeze an extremely impressive and very easy five furlongs in 1:00.35 early Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs. With jockey John Velazquez again flying in overnight from Keeneland to take his regular seat aboard the reigning 2-year-old champion, Fierceness broke off inside workmate Agate Road and cruised through an opening quarter in 24.92 and three-eighths in 36.63 before finishing with tons of energy. Velazquez barely moved a muscle during the work with Agate Road under the stick and steady urging trying to match strides to the wire. Fierceness continued full of run on the gallop-out, completing six furlongs while glued to the rail in 1:13.57 before easing up after seven-panels in 1:28.06. “I thought he worked super, a solid five-eighths with a good gallop-out. Exactly what we were targeting,” said Pletcher. “I think he’s doing every bit as good if not better than he was doing going into the Florida Derby. :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. “It’s kind of hard to think he could be doing better than he had prior to that race, but he’s had a few really good weeks since then and two good works. I just want the race to be here. He’s doing so well, I can’t wait to get there.” Exactly when Pletcher and Fierceness will get to Churchill Downs is still to be determined. All Derby starters are required to be on the grounds by 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27. “I don’t love the long range forecast in Louisville next week, it looks like they are calling for rain Thursday, Friday, and Saturday while the forecast here is for clear weather,” Pletcher noted. “So we might have our final breeze here next Friday and then go.” Pletcher said he will have some safeguards in place to assure Fierceness arrives at his destination in time to meet the earlier deadline imposed for Derby starters this year. “We’ll have another van behind the van he’s in just in case, although it’s something I still have to talk to the stewards about,” Pletcher said when asked what would happen if a horse happens to arrive past the deadline due to unforeseen circumstances en route. Catalytic finished 13 1/2 lengths behind Fierceness when second best in the Florida Derby and was about 2 1/2 hours behind Fierceness getting in his penultimate Kentucky Derby work about 45 miles farther south at Gulfstream Park shortly after 9 a.m. He went five furlongs in 1:00.70 before continuing six panels under urging in 1:14.27, his final quarter to the wire in 23.81 while set down from midstretch to and through the finish line to complete the move into the clubhouse turn. “I was thinking of putting him in company but didn’t want to overdo it,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “We’re not looking for fitness right now. He’s plenty fit. We’re just looking to maintain.” Joseph finds himself in the same boat as Pletcher in regards to shipping plans, while also well aware of the dubious long-range forecast for next weekend in Louisville. “Right now we’re booked to leave Sunday, but that could change if the forecast continues to call for rain in Louisville later this week,” said Joseph. The jockey situation for Catalytic remains up in the air. He was ridden by Julien Leparoux in the Florida Derby. Friday was a busy and somewhat hectic morning for Velazquez, who jumped aboard Dorth Vader for trainer George Weaver almost immediately after bringing Fierceness back to the barn. The Grade 2-winning filly breezed five-eighths in 1:02.93 off a pedestrian 39.20 opening three furlongs before continuing out extremely well around the turn. She eased up after six panels in 1:15.99. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Velazquez spoke quickly about both works before rushing to make the 45 minute drive to Fort Lauderdale airport to catch a flight he hoped would have him back at Keeneland in time to ride the second race. Fierceness “did it pretty easy. I never asked him to do anything, I just let him do his thing,” Velazquez said. “Nothing has changed [since the Florida Derby]. I’m just hoping he can stay like this, keep going forward coming into the Derby. Imagine if he runs the same race he just did in the Florida Derby. He’ll be pretty tough to beat.” Velazquez was also very pleased with Dorth Vader, whom he rode to a close second-place finish in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park and a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga to close out her somewhat abbreviated 3-year-old campaign. “She went very nice,” said Velazquez. “I know her. I know she’s a very strong work horse and I can’t let her do too much the first part. [Weaver] told me to go nice and easy the first part and let her finish three-quarters from the quarter pole and she finished really good.” The work was the fourth at Palm Beach Downs for Dorth Vader in preparation for her 2024 debut, which Weaver said would likely come in either the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill on May 3 or the Grade 2 Ruffian at Aqueduct the following day. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? 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