Pletcher works Fierceness, Mindframe, and Tuscan Sky for Haskell

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though there are plenty of stakes options for 3-year-olds in the coming weeks, trainer Todd Pletcher is focused on the biggest prize – the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 20 at Monmouth Park – for his trio of Mindfame, Fierceness, and Tuscan Sky.

After putting all three through workouts Friday morning in Saratoga, Pletcher sees no reason to alter those plans three weeks out from that race.

Fierceness, the 2023 juvenile champion male who hasn’t run since a 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:00.94, per Daily Racing Form, over the Oklahoma training track. Fierceness went in company with recent debut-winning 3-year-old Illuminare, the pair getting their final quarter in 24.25 seconds. It was the third workout for Fierceness since Pletcher and owner Mike Repole opted to bypass the Belmont Stakes with him.

“I thought he worked really, really well,” Pletcher said. “Moving great, did it easily, strong gallop-out; really happy with him. We were wanting to pick it up with him, but he was more than willing.”

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Pletcher said the Kentucky Derby was a bit more taxing than expected on Fierceness, who last year won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and this year the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Pletcher said Fierceness had a lesser appetite and wasn’t training with the same energy he had previously.

“Seems like now that we’ve given him a little extra time, he’s back at his best,” Pletcher said.

Two hours later, Pletcher worked Belmont Stakes runner-up Mindframe in company with Pegasus Stakes winner Tuscan Sky. Though the final time for the half-mile was 50.81, the two galloped out another quarter-mile with Mindframe the stronger of the pair through five furlongs in 1:03.24 and six furlongs in 1:15.57.

“The most impressive part of the work was the five-eighths to three-quarter gallop-out,” Pletcher said. “I told the guys to reel it in at that point, but kind of like what we’ve seen from him before he has the ability to keep going. Everything we’ve seen has been good since the Belmont. The work this morning was really good, seems like he took it well.”

The work was the first for Tuscan Sky since his 6 3/4-length victory in the Pegasus Stakes on June 15 at Monmouth. Tuscan Sky is still eligible for a race like the Curlin on July 19 at Saratoga, and all three are eligible for the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy on July 27 at Saratoga. But Pletcher is of the mindset to point all three to the Haskell.

“We got three horses you can make an argument the Haskell makes the most sense for,” Pletcher said. “Tuscan Sky is coming off a win in the Pegasus. The profile of the track at Monmouth should suit Fierceness well. Timing and the Grade 1 status for Mindframe is attractive. We have to continue to prepare as all three are candidates to run there.”

Another 3-year-old of note on the work tab Friday for Pletcher was Speak Easy, a 1 3/4-length debut winner on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park. Speak Easy, who was scratched out of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth after getting loose in the post parade, on Friday went a half-mile in 48.88 in company with the 4-year-old filly Bandita, who hasn’t run since her impressive debut win at Gulfstream in January 2023.

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Speak Easy needed stitches after he ran into the rail prior to the start of the Fountain of Youth. Pletcher has not figured out where Speak Easy would make his second start.

“Knock on the wood, he’s looking good at the moment,” Pletcher said.

Mentee, the full brother to Fierceness who won his debut by a nose June 13, worked a half-mile in 49.41 in company with the debut-winning 3-year-old filly Audacious. Pletcher is pointing Mentee to the Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford Stakes on July 13 at Saratoga.

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