Kentucky Derby: Fierceness works in Florida with Velazquez aboard

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – It was back to work on Friday for Florida Derby winner and potential Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, who breezed an easy half-mile in 50.17 seconds in company with his Grade 2-winning stablemate Agate Road just after dawn at Palm Beach Downs.

Despite the fact the work was strictly maintenance by design, the importance of the drill in the overall scheme of things was not lost on trainer Todd Pletcher or Fierceness’ regular rider, John Velazquez, who flew in overnight from Keeneland to put the reigning 2-year-old champion male through his paces Friday.

“We thought about it, bringing Johnny all the way back here for this work, and just felt like we wanted to cover all the bases,” Pletcher explained.

Working over a track Pletcher felt was playing a second to a second and a half slower than normal due to dry and windy conditions this past week, Fierceness completed his opening quarter in 25.59 before finishing up strong while well within himself before galloping out slightly best of Agate Road in 1:03.32.

“We did exactly what we normally do for the first work back, an easy half-mile,” Pletcher said. “He was moving great, I couldn’t be happier with him. We’ll come back with a more solid work here next week and then polish it off with another maintenance move in his final work before the Derby.”

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Just where that final work will take place is up in the air.

“He has to be there [at Churchill Downs] by 11 a.m. the Saturday before the Derby,” Pletcher said. “And there’s a good chance he’ll have his final breeze at Churchill Downs, although we’ll be leaving that window open, monitor the weather, and get ready to call an audible if need be.”

Velazquez said he was very pleased with Fierceness on Friday while confirming he plans to return to South Florida for the next work as well despite the difficult logistics involved in flying back to Keeneland in time to fulfill his riding engagements later that afternoon.

“He did it nicely, the track was a little slower than normal, but he did it so easily the way he got around there, which is exactly what we were looking for,” Velazquez said before hustling off to the airport minutes after the work to begin his arduous journey back to Kentucky.

Fiercesness and Agate Road, who is penciled in for the Grade 2 American Turf on Derby Day, were just two of more than a handful of Pletcher’s top 3-year-olds to work at Palm Beach Downs on Friday. They were followed a short while later by the team of sensational maiden winner Mindframe and Antiquarian, who finished sixth after breaking through the gate prior to the start of the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in his last start. The pair completed a half-mile in 49.45 over the cuppy surface before galloping out with excellent energy, easing up after five-eighths in 1:02.10.

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“I thought both horses looked very good,” said Pletcher who added that Mindframe remains a possibility for the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard while Antiquarian is likely headed for the Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 11 at Aqueduct.

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