Fierceness, Sierra Leone Renew Rivalry in Loaded Whitney

[Wandering Eyes]

Before Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Journalism (Curlin), there was Fierceness (City of Light) and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner).

While we patiently wait for round three between the top two 3-year-olds in the country, last year's two standout sophomores and 'TDN Rising Stars' Fierceness and Sierra Leone will meet for the fifth time and first this year in Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Fierceness defeated Sierra Leone in both the GII Jim Dandy S. and GI Travers S. at Saratoga last summer. Sierra Leone turned the tables with a powerful, come-from-behind win after benefitting from a hot pace with Fierceness back in second in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. The two also met in last year's GI Kentucky Derby. Sierra Leone was a painful second, beaten just a nose, while Fierceness never fired as the 3-1 favorite in 15th.

Fierceness, campaigned by Repole Stable and the Coolmore partners of Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, has made two starts so far this season. The champion 2-year-old colt of 2023 established a new track record for 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs in his comebacker in the GII Alysheba S. May 2, then was a disappointing second as the favorite after encountering some early trouble in the GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H. over a sloppy-and-sealed track at the Spa June 7.

“He's been training great like he always does and, so far, everything has gone according to plan,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He's just super talented, and when he's able to put together his 'A' race, he's very, very good.”

Pletcher has won the Whitney four previous times. The rail-drawn, two-time GISW this term and 'Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) was also entered by Pletcher, but will scratch as long as Fierceness is good to go.

“I think it has established itself as sort of the marquee older horse race in the country next to the Breeders' Cup Classic,” Pletcher said of the Whitney.

Last year's champion 3-year-old colt and $2.3-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga buy Sierra Leone, owned by Peter Brant, Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith, is winless in two attempts for trainer Chad Brown since his Classic win. He finished third in the GII New Orleans Classic S. Mar. 22 and a rallying second behind Mindframe in the GI Stephen Foster S. June 28.

Sierra Leone | Sarah Andrew

There should be plenty of pace in the Whitney courtesy of 50-1 outsiders Mama's Gold (Bolt d'Oro) and the Brown-trained and Brant-owned Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief).

“Hopefully the race sets up for him,” Brown said. “He's run some good numbers here and just come up a little short. His end results have been better at other racetracks, but I don't think he hates this track. We'll see how the track is playing Saturday and if it's playing fairly and the pace is fair, I think he has a good shot.”

The field for the Whitney includes eight millionaires. It has also attracted: last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. winner Highland Falls (Curlin); the classy Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained duo of White Abarrio (Race Day) and Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator); and popular Maryland-bred Post Time (Frosted).

Saturday's 13-race program at the Spa features four other graded stakes events, including the 'Win and You're In' GI Fanduel Fourstardave S.

Johannes (Nyquist) invades from Tim Yakteen's Southern California base after winning five of six starts last season, led by the GI Shoemaker Mile S. The 5-2 morning-line favorite followed a very good second-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile with a win in the 1 1/8-mile GII San Gabriel S. last out Dec. 26. The field of 10 also includes last-out GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) and the race's beaten favorite and MGISW Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro).

Johannes | Sarah Andrew

Echo Sound (Echo Town) headlines a fantastic renewal of the GI Test S. She earned a field-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure winning the local GIII Victory Ride S. July 3. The unbeaten and rail-drawn 'Rising Star' Ragtime (Union Rags) tries stakes company for the first time for Bill Mott.

Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), winner of the 2024 G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy S. at Doncaster, will make his U.S. debut in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational. The 7-5 morning-line favorite will face eight rivals, including last-out GI Belmont Derby Invitational winner Test Score (Lookin At Lucky).

A pair of very exciting 2-year-olds will face off in the GII Saratoga Special S. Obliteration (Violence) won his first two career starts by a combined 18 lengths, led by a runaway decision in the GIII Sanford S. July 5. Ewing (Knicks Go) was a slam dunk 'TDN Rising Star' on debut, winning by 12 lengths two races earlier on the same program.

Obliteration | Sarah Andrew

The talented Kopion (Omaha Beach) will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles for Richard Mandella in the 'Win and You're In' GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar. The field of six also includes Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) and Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke), a pair of impressive last-out graded stakes winners for Bob Baffert.

Other graded stakes action this weekend includes: the GIII Seagram Cup S. at Woodbine Saturday; and Sunday's GII Troy S. and GIII Adirondack S. at Saratoga; GIII Pucker Up S. at Ellis Park; and GIII West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer.

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