Fierceness works toward Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Fierceness, runner-up in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, returned to the work tab Friday morning, covering a half-mile in 48.67 seconds over Saratoga’s main track.

Fierceness worked outside of Classic Catch, going his first quarter in 24.96 and his second in 23.71 while finishing a length in front and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.59.

“He was moving well, looked good. I had him reel him in on the gallop-out after the five-eighths,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I felt pretty good where he was and feel even better after the work.”

Fierceness won the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2 before finishing second to Raging Torrent in the Met Mile after some bumping at the start of the race. Fierceness is a three-time winner at Saratoga, having won a maiden race at 2 and the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers at 3.

Pletcher could also start Mindframe in the Whitney, but that decision won’t come until at least Mindframe returns to the work tab following his victory in the June 28 Stephen Foster Stakes.

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