Fierceness tunes up for Florida Derby with five-furlong work

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Fierceness continued preparations for his expected start in the $1 million Florida Derby on March 30, working five furlongs in 1:01.03 seconds in company with Tuscan Sky early Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs.

Fierceness and his Todd Pletcher stablemate started off slowly and picked up the pace steadily thereafter, accordng to Daily Racing Form clocker Dave Norton, who recorded splits of 14.19 for the opening furlong, 37.97 for three-eighths, and a six-furlong gallop-out in 1:13.82 while noting Fierceness, with John Velazquez aboard, galloped out best of the duo.

Tuscan Sky, winner of a Fair Grounds allowance race with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure in his last start, had Saez aboard. He is expected to make his next start in a still-to-be-determined Kentucky Derby prep in the coming weeks.

:: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports

◗ At Gulfstream Park, the Grade 1-placed Dancing Groom, who never factored while finishing fifth in both the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth earlier in the meet, was back on the work tab Friday. Switching over to the Tapeta track, he went five furlongs in 1:00.83, completing his final quarter in 23.72 without being asked before galloping out three-quarters in 1:14.17 over the quick surface.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.