‘His Track Record Speaks For Itself’: Champion Fierceness Retires To Ashford Stud Following Breeders’ Cup Classic

[Wandering Eyes]

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Fierceness (City of Light–Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty), the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male of 2023 and a four-time Grade I winner, will begin his stud career at Coolmore's Kentucky base at Ashford Stud following his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

An imperious 11 1/4-length debut winner at Saratoga in August 2023, earning no-brainer 'Rising Star' in a similar fashion to owner Mike Repole's fellow champion and late Ashford stallion Uncle Mo, Fierceness romped by 6 1/4 lengths in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“That was a pretty awesome performance–he's a special talent,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of his championship-clinching victory in the Juvenile.

The 13 1/2-length winner of the GI Curlin Florida Derby, Fierceness defeated fellow 'Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) by a length in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and took down the colors of future Horse of the Year and 'Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes. Sierra Leone was third on that occasion, while GI Belmont Stakes hero Dornoch (Good Magic) was back in fourth. He concluded the season with a gallant runner-up effort in the Classic behind Sierra Leone, sitting up on a torrid pace and yielding only in the final stages to finish 1 1/2 lengths in arrears.

Fierceness has been one of the leading lights of this year's handicap division, with a powerful first-up victory in the GII Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs and a latest 3 1/4-length defeat of this year's GI Preakness Stakes hero Journalism (Curlin) in the GI Pacific Classic back on Aug. 30. He'll return to the same track and distance for his career finale in just under two weeks' time.

To date, Fierceness has amassed a record of 7-2-1 from 13 starts for earnings of $5,155,320.

“Fierceness isn't just a racehorse–he's family,” said Repole. “He represents everything we've built and believe in at Repole Stable. From the day he was born, we knew he was special.

“He's a Grade I winner at two, three and four, a Breeders' Cup Champion, an Eclipse Award winner and a horse who showed heart, grit, and freakish talent.”

Added Coolmore's Dermot Ryan: “Fierceness hails from a young and hugely exciting family of his owner/breeder, Mike Repole. His track record speaks for itself. A Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winning champion 2-year-old who further enhanced his profile with Grade I victories at three and years (of age), consistently posting massive Beyers in the process.

“He is an outstanding physical from a hugely successful sireline and out of a sister to GI Wood Memorial Stakes winner, Outwork. We got together with Mike Repole with an outstanding Saratoga MSW, Eclipse Award and Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winner before, and we all know how good Uncle Mo turned out to be. With his credentials, there's no reason to believe that Fierceness won't be every bit as good.”

The post ‘His Track Record Speaks For Itself’: Champion Fierceness Retires To Ashford Stud Following Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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