Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Pletcher’s Big Guns Running on Both Coasts This Weekend

Wandering Eyes · August 29

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – All summer long, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has fielded questions, seemingly daily, about the two marquee older horses that live in his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track.

The goal, Pletcher said, was to keep Fierceness (City of Light) and Mindframe (Constitution) as far apart from each other as possible. On the racetrack that is. Mission accomplished.

That weekend is here, and the two 4-year-olds are spending it on opposite ends of the country. Fierceness is in California to run in the GI, $1 million Pacific Classic Saturday and Mindframe is home, to contest the GI, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sunday.

Both horses are co-owned by Mike Repole's Repole Stable. Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier are partners in Fierceness; Vinnie and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stable are with him in Mindframe.

The hope was to keep them apart until it's not possible, that being in the GI, $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 2.

Both horses have big tasks this weekend.

Fierceness, who will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, will have to tackle the likes of 4-year-old Nysos (Nyquist), who has won five of six career starts, and Journalism (Curlin), who is taking on older horses for the first time after winning the GI Preakness and finishing second to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes.

“I have a ton of respect for Nysos and a ton of respect for Journalism,” Pletcher said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Friday morning. “We are taking the worst of it, shipping into their home court and drawing the one (post), but I still believe when Fierceness shows up at his best, he is capable of beating everyone.”

Fierceness, who finished fifth in the GI Whitney Stakes in his last start, is the 3-1 third choice in the field of eight behind Nysos (8-5) and Journalism (9-5). Fierceness finished second in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Pletcher's assistant Sophie Green accompanied Fierceness to California.

He will stay here to saddle Mindframe, who is the 2-1 morning line second choice in the Jockey Club Gold Cup behind 8-5 Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who win the Whitney in his last start. Mindframe has finished first or second in all seven of his starts with five wins. He has won all three of his starts this year

The last time he ran, he won the GI Stephen Foster Stakes by a length over Sierra Leone. That was at Churchill Downs on June 28. Saratoga's leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr., who has been aboard in all seven starts, will ride Mindframe Sunday.

“To me, he is the divisional leader going into this race,” Pletcher said. “Everything can change after Saturday and Sunday but if he continues to win, he holds his spot. He is an exceptional horse. He has run well in every start of his life and has run well from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. He has tactical speed, and he has stamina.”

Besides already beating Sierra Leone, Mindframe has defeated Nysos and 'Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes). Book 'em Danno won the GI Forego Stakes last weekend at Saratoga.

Since coming to Saratoga this summer, Mindframe has thrived, Pletcher said.

“If the voting were done today, he would be the champion (older horse) but they don't vote now,” Pletcher said. “It seems whatever happens at the end of the year counts more than what happens at the beginning of the year.”

Reid Hoping For a Hopeful Home Run From Flyin Hawaiian

The morning line for Monday's GI, $300,000 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga tells you Flyin Hawaiian (Maximus Mischief) has no chance to win the meet's major race for 2-year-old colts.

Trainer Butch Reid Jr. isn't buying it.

“He is a very talented horse,” Reid said Friday afternoon from his base at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania. “I will be disappointed if he doesn't run well.”

The Pennsylvania-bred is owned by Reid and partners James Bonner and Glenn Bennett's LC Racing. The horse got his name because Bennett is a friend of former major league baseball player Shane Victorino, who played 12 years, eight of them with the Philadelphia Phillies. His nickname was “Flyin Hawaiian.” Victorino was born in Hawaii.

“You are not from Philadelphia, or you would have known that,” Reid said with a laugh. “I've talked to (Victorino) a few times on the phone. He is really excited about this.”

Flyin Hawaiian the horse has been in Saratoga for the last month after breaking his maiden at Parx by 8 1/2 lengths going 4 1/2 furlongs on July 21.

“Se started thinking about the Hopeful about 10 minutes after that race,” Reid said.

Reid's wife Virginia has been with the colt in Saratoga.

In his first start, Flyin Hawaiin failed over a muddy track at Monmouth on June 22.

“He had a real tough time there,” Reid said. “When we brought him back and ran him at home, he did what we thought he was going to do the first time out. He is a talented horse; not the biggest horse but a nice sized horse and he has a nice stride on him.”

Flyin Hawaiian is a full brother to Maximus Meridius, who won six times in his 18-race career and was on the board six other times.

“He is a lot like him,” Reid said. “I know there are some nice horses in there, but I really think he is going to run good. He is fast. He doesn't need to be on the lead. He didn't break that sharp the last time. He is still learning; he is figuring things out. When all is said and done, I think he will be a very nice horse.”

Mystik-Dan-turf-work-08-01-2025-SA6_6558

Mystik Dan | Sarah Andrew

Mystik Dan's Goal is Dirt Mile at Breeders' Cup

After spending much of the summer at Saratoga, 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) is back in the Bluegrass State. That is the likely landing spot for the next start for the 4-year-old colt, who is owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said the GII, $500,000 Lukas Classic at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 27 could be the target but he will also nominate him to the GIII, $400,000 Ack Ack at a mile. The Ack Ack is also on Sept. 27.

The reason for being nominated to both is that McPeek is also considering running Gould's Gold (Goldencents) in the Lukas Classic. Gould's Gold finished third in last Fridays GII Charles Town Classic.

“We have to decide if we are going to keep them separated or run them against each other,” McPeek said.

McPeek experimented with Mystik Dan in his last start, putting him on the grass in the GI Arlington Million Stakes and he finished a credible fourth. McPeek toyed with the idea of running Mystik Dan at Kentucky Downs for the GIII, $1 million Mint Millions on Sept. 6.

“Our goal is the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile,” McPeek said. “I don't think there is time (to put him back on the grass). A good horse can run on anything if you need him to.”

Mystik Dan has one win in five starts this year, that coming in the GIII Blame Stakes at Churchill on May 31. After that, he was fourth in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes before making the move to the turf.