Fierceness dominates in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Just F Y I hangs on in Juvenile Fillies

Nov 04, 2023 J. Keeler Johnson

On an action-packed Friday at Santa Anita, Fierceness emerged as the early favorite for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) when powering to victory against a top-class field in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

A 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 30 points to the winner, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is the most prestigious race in North America for two-year-old Thoroughbreds. The winner is often voted champion two-year-old male at the Eclipse Awards, a title that’s almost certain to be bestowed upon Fierceness after his blowout victory.

The result was never really in doubt. Under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Fierceness broke sharply, pressed fractions of :23.25, :47.02, and 1:10.86 from second place, and then took over in the homestretch to dominate by 6 1/4 lengths in the exceptional time of 1:41.90.

Muth held on for second place after launching a challenge around the far turn, while Locked rallied belatedly for third. Timberlake, Prince of Monaco, General Partner, Cuban Thunder, Wine Me Up, and Noted completed the order of finish. Ecoro Neo and The Wine Steward scratched.

“I had a perfect trip,” said Velazquez. “We were concerned a little about the break. He behaved well in the gate and broke well. He went forwardly and sat second nicely. Once we passed the half-mile pole, he grabbed into the bridle a little sooner than I wanted. When he got to the quarter-pole, he started looking around so I got after him. He was running down the stretch and got serious once I got after him. I had no doubt (I was going to win.) I worked him in the morning and I was very impressed and I was hoping he would put the same work in the afternoon.”

Conditioned by two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, Fierceness is a Repole Stable homebred son of 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light. An impressive maiden winner during the summer at Saratoga, Fierceness finished seventh when making his stakes debut in the Champagne (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but shrugged off that disappointment in the Juvenile and now ranks atop the Kentucky Derby qualification leaderboard.

Earlier in the afternoon, the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) ended in an upset. Unbeaten Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner Tamara started as the heavy favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier, but after setting fractions of :22.47, :46.60, and 1:10.95 she unexpectedly tired in the homestretch to finish seventh.

In the meantime, Just F Y I overcame breaking from post 12 to spring a 7-1 surprise. Coming off a decisive victory in the Frizette (G1), the daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify broke running under jockey Junior Alvarado and managed to clear most of the field by the time the first turn approached, eventually settling into second place outside of Tamara.

At the top of the homestretch, Just F Y I took over the lead. Longshot Jody’s Pride closed ground in the final furlong, but Just F Y I dug deep and held on to win by a neck in the final time of 1:44.58.

“You know I broke from the 12 and she broke very well,” said Alvarado. “I nudged her a little bit out of there just to get some position and save some ground.  She was there every step of the way helping me out. When I asked her, she was all out there for me.”

Candied followed the rally of Jody’s Pride to finish third, followed by Life Talk, Scalable, Brightwork, Tamara, Where’s My Ring, Chatalas, Accommodate Eva, Esprit Enchante, and Omaha Girl. Alys Beach scratched.

Bred and owned by George Krikorian, Just F Y I is now undefeated in three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Having accumulated a total of 40 Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualification points (30 in the Juvenile Fillies and 10 in the Frizette), Just F Y I ranks atop the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 40 points.