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Crudo took the Sir Barton at Pimlico two weeks ago. (Jim McCue/TMJC)
Fierceness a formidable contender for G1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap contender
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Notes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will have two chances in Crudo and Uncaged to score his fifth victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, at Saratoga Race Course.
Pletcher’s past winners include the filly Rags to Riches [2007] as well as Palace Malice [2013], Tapwrit [2017] and Mo Donegal [2022].
Bobby Flay and James Ventura’s Crudo confirmed his entry to the final leg of the Triple Cown with a strong breeze over the Oklahoma training track. He worked a half-mile in 48.86 Sunday in company with Gate to Wire [49 flat], who will make his next start on the same card in the Grade 1, $500,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun.
CRUDO (outside) is confirmed for the Belmont Stakes presented by @NYRABets! He enters off back-to-back wins, most recently in the Sir Barton on @PreaknessStakes Day. pic.twitter.com/QFPIf8ULFZ
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 1, 2025
Crudo broke off about one length back and traveled to the outside of Gate to Wire as NYRA Clockers timed Crudo through splits of 12 4/5, 24 4/5, and out in 1:01 3/5 and 1:14 3/5.
Crudo, a $350,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, is by 2018 Triple Crown-winner Justify. He has won 2-of-3 starts, including a last-out 7 1/2-length pacesetting score in the restricted 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. That effort doubled up on a similar frontrunning 7 1/4-length graduation in April at Keeneland.
Pletcher said he liked the way Crudo galloped out in front of his work partner.
“I thought it was an excellent move. He worked really well, galloped out nicely. I was very pleased with him. He’s had a good couple weeks since he ran,” Pletcher said. “It’s undoubtedly a pretty strong field. The top-three from the Derby look to be really good colts. We’ve always been really high on the way the horse trained. His last two races have been very good.”
Hall of Famer John Velazquez will retain the mount in the Belmont.
Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier’s multiple Grade 1-winner Fierceness brings consistent form to the Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap set for Belmont Stakes Day June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. The Met Mile offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
The 4-year-old City of Light bay often flashed brilliance in his early performances, including an 11 1/4-length geared-down debut romp in August 2023 sprinting six furlongs over muddy and sealed footing at the Spa. He was off the board in the Grade 1 Champagne after lunging at the start that October but returned to winning ways with a 6 1/4-length score in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to earn Champion 2-Year-Old Colt honors.
Fierceness won 3-of-6 sophomore starts, taking the Grade 1 Florida Derby between a third the Grade 3 Holy Bull and a troubled 15th as the favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
However, since returning to action after the Derby, Fierceness has proven to be a consistent force in winning 3-of-4 starts with triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, taking the Grade 2 Jim Dandy [103] and Grade 1 Travers [111] here last summer. His lone non-winning effort over that stretch came with a strong second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, matching up his 111 Beyer when 1 1/2-lengths back of the victorious Sierra Leone.
Fierceness returned a winner in May with a 1 1/2-length score in the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs to earn a 107 Beyer.
“He’s put that stigma of him being inconsistent behind him, and hopefully that continues. Since the Derby, the Jim Dandy, the Travers, the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Alysheba coming back this year were all terrific. He’s a pleasure to train,” Pletcher said.
Fierceness, bred by Mike Repole’s Repole Stable, is out of the winning mare Nonna Bella, who is sired by Repole’s dual Grade 1-winner Stay Thirsty – victor of the 2011 Travers and 2012 Cigar Mile Handicap. Nonna Bella is out of the Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia, who was purchased by Repole Stable for $200,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, and subsequently produced 2016 Grade 1 Wood Memorial-winner Outwork.
“We’re fortunate to be able to train a horse like this. It’s cool, too, that we trained the mare and this is Mike’s foundation family. I think that makes this even more fun,” Pletcher said.
Fierceness has banked in excess of $4.3 million through a 10-6-1-1 ledger.
