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‘Beast from the East’ Fierceness triumphs in the Pacific Classic over Journalism (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif. — Repole Stable, Smith, Tabor and partners’ Fierceness shipped in from New York, overcame a nasty swerve at the start of the Grade I Pacific Classic, then went about the business of winning the $1-million headliner in impressive fashion at Del Mar Saturday.
The City of Light 4-year-old won his seventh race in his 13th start and picked up a check for $600,000 for his three and a quarter-length triumph and pushed his career earnings to $5,155,320. He ran the mile and one quarter in 2:01.00 and paid $5.20 for $2 as the second betting choice in the field of seven.
Fierceness was given an outstanding ride by Hall of Famer John Velazquez. He’s trained by another Hall of Famer, Todd Pletcher. He now can set his sights on the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 1, a race he ran second in last year.
The Pacific Classic is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race that guarantees the victor a spot in the starting lineup in the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I).
Finishing second in the Pacific Classic was Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners et al’s Journalism, who went off as the 2/5 favorite in the 35th edition of the race. The 3-year-old, running against older horses for the first time, finished six and a half lengths ahead of third-place finisher Ultimate Gamble, owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal.
The Pacific Classic was the highlight of the shore oval’s biggest racing day with five Graded stakes on the menu.
The big race lost some of its luster Saturday morning when trainer Bob Baffert announced the Baoma Corp’s morning line favorite Nysos would not be able to run due to a bruised heel.
JOHN VELASQUEZ (Fierceness, winner) — “At the start, he attempted to duck into the temporary railing. I got him out of there, but he over reacted by pulling in the the other direction. I wanted to stay off his mouth, so I had to sit on him a little. But he got straightened out going into the first turn. I was able to save ground behind the leaders. On the back stretch, he was keen to go on, that’s why I moved between horses going into the turn. I had to move as early as I did because he was so keen. Today I wanted to get him off the bridle a little and let him finish. I was very happy we got there.”
SOPHIE GREEN (asst. for Todd Pletcher (Fierceness, winner) – “It (the start) had me a little bit worried there. He’s had bad breaks before in the past when he was 2-years-old and I almost felt like that again, but Johnny (Velezquez) knew what to do and kept him going. He had him in a great position. We thought the two (Midnight Mammoth) might go to the lead and we wanted to be as close to that as we could.”
FRACTIONS: :22.99 :45.84 1:10.26 1:35.70 2:01.00
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Velazquez and his first in the Pacific Classic. He now has 13 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Pletcher and his first in the Pacific Classic. He now has three stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning ownership group is headed by Mike Repole of New York.
