Gulfstream: G1 Curlin Florida Derby Hero Fierceness ‘Super’ in 5F Breeze

By David Joseph —-

April 19, 2024

Fierceness; Gulfstream Park Photos
G1 Curlin Florida Derby Hero Fierceness ‘Super’ in 5F Breeze

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Coming off a record-breaking victory in the March 30 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, Fierceness breezed at Palm Beach Downs Friday morning in preparation for a highly anticipated start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The 2023 Eclipse Award’s 2-year-old male champion covered five furlongs in 1:00.35 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. The Repole Stable homebred colt worked in company with graded-stakes winner Agate Road.

“I thought he worked super – a solid five-eighths with a good gallop-out, exactly what we were targeting,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I think he is doing every bit as good, if not better, than he was going into the Florida Derby.”

Plans for Fierceness beyond Friday’s breeze are still indefinite, said Pletcher, who will continue to monitor weather conditions in Kentucky.

Fierceness provided Pletcher with his record eighth Curlin Florida Derby success while posting the largest winning margin in the 73-year history of Gulfstream’s Triple Crown prep, eclipsing Empire Maker’s old record of 9 ¾ lengths set in 2003. Always Dreaming (2017) went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Fierceness, who completed his championship juvenile season with a 6 ¼ victory in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita, got off to a disappointing start of his 2024 campaign with a third-place finish behind Hades in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull (G3) as the 1-5 favorite. The Kentucky-bred colt, who had a troubled start and a wide trip in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, rebounded in spectacular fashion, taking complete control at the start of the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby and cruising to a dominant victory.

Catalytic Preps for Kentucky Derby with 5F Breeze at Gulfstream

Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic, who finished a distant second behind Fierceness while making only his third career start and stakes debut in the March 30 Curlin Florida Derby (G1), breezed five furlongs in 1:00.72 at Gulfstream Park Friday morning.

“Everything went all right. I got him in a minute and four-fifths and the [six-furlong] gallop-out in 1:14-and-change,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.

Catalytic entered the Curlin Florida Derby off a sharp debut victory at Gulfstream in October and a second-place finish in a March 8 optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs.

Joseph plans to ship the son of Catalina Cruiser to Churchill Downs Sunday for a start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1), weather permitting.

“The key is to get there, and once you get there, anything can happen in the Derby,” Joseph said.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.