Thistledown: Fierce Cat wires 'em

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Fierce Cat sprinted to a clear lead leaving the chute and won as rider Scott Spieth pleased, taking the $40,000 Loyalty Stakes at Thistledown by eight lengths. Brooks Blach chased the winner all the way in the six-furlong race and outgamed Smacker for second by a nose.

Fierce Cat, a 2-year-old son of Noble Cat trained by William J. Napier, got the six furlongs in 1:11.42 over a fast racing strip and returned $4 as the choice over his five Ohio- bred peers.