Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: Fierceness The One For Pletcher In Whitney

Wandering Eyes · July 26

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-'TDN Rising Stars' Fierceness (City of Light) or Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI $1 million Whitney Stakes?

Will one of them be running or will it be both?

Those questions got definitive answers Saturday morning outside Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's barn on the Oklahoma Training Track.

When entries are taken for the meet's marquee race for older horses on Sunday, both horses names will be front and center, but it will be Fierceness who carries the flag for Pletcher and the ownership group of Mike Repole's Repole Stables, Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier.

“We plan to enter both,” Pletcher said. “We want to make sure we have a good week and if everything goes smoothly, the plan is to run Fierceness,” Pletcher said. “We are fortunate to have two horses that are multiple Grade I winners that are capable of running in these kinds of races.”

Mindframe, who has won all three of his starts this year–all at different distances–will be pointed to the $1 million GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at the end of the meet, Aug. 31. But he will be entered in the Whitney as a safeguard in case Fierceness ends up not running.

The two 4-year-olds both worked on the main track at Saratoga Saturday morning. Fierceness and exercise rider Danny Wright appeared at 7 a.m. and went in company with stablemate Dreamlike (Gun Runner), going four furlongs in :49.40 (104/167).

Mindframe (outside) at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

“All of his works have been excellent,” Pletcher said. “We tried to do a little less with him today than he did last week when he had such a big work (five furlongs in 1:01.70) and such a strong gallop out. This was more of a maintenance work.”

Mindframe, owned by Repole and Vinnie and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stable, and exercise rider Carlos Quevedo appeared later at 8:45 a.m. and also went four furlongs in :49.22 (87/167) while working in company with stablemate Classicist (Curlin).

For now, Pletcher will be fine keeping his two stable stars away from each other. Fierceness has won six of 11 career starts and is coming off a second-place finish in the GI Met Mile at Saratoga June 7.

“I think, for a race like the (GI) Breeders' Cup Classic, I would look forward to having both of them in there and taking their best shot at it,” Pletcher said. “There is a good chance we'll keep them separated until that day.”

Joseph Mulling What to do With Skippy
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. knows that he will be running White Abarrio (Race Day) in next Saturday's Whitney. He's not sure what he is going to do with his stablemate Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator).

The 6-year-old horse, who seems to get better as he gets older, worked four furlongs in :49.22 (87/167) on the Saratoga main track in company with stablemate Wally World (More Than Ready) at 8:45 Saturday morning.

Joseph said he will decide on Sunday whether he will put Skippy's name in the entry box.

“We won't decide until we have to,” Joseph said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Saturday morning.

The main goal for Skippy this summer, Joseph said, is the GII Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on Aug. 22. It's a race that Skippy, owned by Daniel Alonso, has won the last two years. Joseph would love a three-peat.

Skippylongstocking was entered to run in the GI Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 28, but Joseph scratched. He hasn't run since May 26 when he won the GII Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes at Santa Anita.

Joseph would like to get a race into Skippy before the trip to Charles Town, but the Whitney is a tough spot, he knows that.

“The cons are the competition,” he said with a laugh. “The pros are if we were to win it. We want to run in the Whitney. We did it last year (finishing fifth). If he runs in the Whitney and has a hard race and you mess up the Charles Town Classic … that is the drawback.”

Skippylongstocking has started 32 times and has 11 wins, three seconds and seven third place finishes. This year, he has two wins and two thirds in four starts.

“He is consistent,” Joseph said. “He has gotten better as he has gotten older. From his 4-year-old year on, he has been really, really good. Every track he goes to, he runs. Thankfully, he has been able to stay around and he has been a joy to have.”

Skippylongstocking works Saturday | Sarah Andrew

Jockeys Will Have a Song to Sing on Sunday
The not ready for prime-time jockeys will take center stage at Vapors Night Club in Saratoga Springs Sunday night. It's the annual Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) “Riders Up!,” the annual karaoke contest and fundraiser. The East Coast jockeys will belt out their tunes while those on the West Coast will do the same on Aug. 10.

Those attending should not plan on hearing dulcet tones that will bring back memories of Sinatra or Elvis. But the jockeys promise they will give it the best they got.

“I love music, I just can't sing,” Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez said Saturday morning on the Oklahoma Training Track.

When asked to rate himself as a singer, he laughed.

“I am close to a minus-zero,” he said. “I do try. I will put in a good effort. I just can't sing.”

He said he will perform with his wife Leona but would not reveal what kind of number they are going to do.

Joel Rosario, another Hall of Famer, admitted he is pretty much tone deaf, too. But he'll give it a shot.

“Please don't ask me to sing,” he said on the Saratoga backstretch when asked for a preview. “I only sing in the house where no one can hear me.”

International riding star Frankie Dettori wants no part of the singing competition, but he'll be the to support his buddies. And have a few laughs, too.

“I am good, but I'm not singing,” he said. “Some people take it real serious. I am going to be a spectator. I'll watch everyone make a fool of themselves. I am going to take a back seat and have a good laugh.”

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performances start at 8. For tickets and more information, click here.