Pletcher goes for triple in Champagne, Breeders’ Futurity, American Pharoah

His chances of turning a triple are reflected in his contenders’ morning-line odds – Fierceness is the 6-5 favorite in the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct, Locked is listed at 7-5 in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, and Be You is the joint 4-1 second choice in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita.

All are “Win and You’re In” events for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), as well as Derby scoring races worth points on the 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five eligible finishers.

Fierceness earned rave reviews for his 11 1/4-length debut conquest at Saratoga, where he evoked memories of champion Uncle Mo. Likewise trained by Pletcher for Repole Stable, Uncle Mo progressed from his Spa romp to win the Champagne and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and Fierceness hopes to maintain the parallel.

Most of his rivals were also spotted at Saratoga. Timberlake, runner-up as the Hopeful (G1) favorite, takes the blinkers off for Brad Cox. Steve Asmussen’s Gold Sweep, sixth in the Hopeful, tries a different equipment change by adding blinkers. Chad Brown’s General Partner rolled by an imperious four lengths in his maiden score, hinting that maybe he could have factored in the Hopeful himself. Dancing Groom is the only entrant with experience going a mile, from his convincing Spa maiden.

El Grande O, just denied by The Wine Steward in a New York-bred stakes at Saratoga, has since crushed state-breds in the Bertram F. Bongard here at Aqueduct. Timberlake’s stablemate Air Cav won at first asking at Horseshoe Indianapolis for Cox, and Timonium Juvenile winner Sweet Soddy J was third in the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial on the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.

Another impressive Pletcher maiden winner, Locked, has been earmarked for the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity ever since his runaway victory over a mile at the Spa. The Gun Runner colt had emerged as one to watch when he was a troubled third on debut to Just Steel and Be You, who went on to compete in the Hopeful. Locked followed up in spectacular fashion next out.

Just Steel was embroiled in the Hopeful pace war and tired to seventh, but the son of Triple Crown champ Justify could find a better race flow at Keeneland for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. 

West Saratoga aims to build upon his 12-1 upset of the Iroquois (G3), the first scoring race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Larray Demeritte trainee has won two straight since placing second to well-regarded Timberlake (who was cross-entered here but expected to go in the Champagne, according to Daily Racing Form).

With Timberlake off to New York, Cox relies on Awesome Road in the Breeders’ Futurity. The well-bred son of Quality Road showed fine speed as well as resolve to win going away on debut at Ellis Park.

The Wine Steward is a perfect 3-for-3, with victories in the Bashford Manor S. and Funny Cide S. at Saratoga (over Champagne runner El Grande O). Although the Mike Maker juvenile has yet to race beyond six furlongs, he’s from the first crop of champion Vino Rosso, a Curlin stallion who crowned his career in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). 

Ken McPeek has two chances with last-out maiden-breakers Generous Tipper and Northern Flame, both on the upswing since getting the opportunity to run longer. Baytown Chatterbox, the 60-1 upsetter of the Ellis Park Juvenile, never factored in eighth in the Hopeful.

Hopeful fourth Be You ventures out to Santa Anita with designs on breaking his maiden at the top level. The Curlin colt nearly beat the more experienced Just Steel in his Saratoga premiere, and he figures to thrive around two turns. The 1 1/16-mile affair is terra incognita for all eight entrants stepping beyond sprints for the first time.

Be You takes on a local contingent that’s missing its leader, Prince of Monaco, who is skipping the prep in favor of awaiting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His trainer, Bob Baffert, has another top threat in $2 million juvenile Muth. A terrific first-out winner at Santa Anita in June, Muth was runner-up to stablemate Prince of Monaco in the Best Pal (G3). Plans called for Muth to contest the Hopeful, but he ended up scratching. Baffert also has front-running debut winner Wine Me Up. Note that Muth and Wine Me Up are ineligible for Derby points because Baffert is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc.

The maiden Next Level, third behind Prince of Monaco in the Del Mar Futurity, could show more for Keith Desormeaux. The Doug O’Neill-trained Raging Torrent, third in the Best Pal and fourth in the Del Mar Futurity, adds blinkers. Rothschild was a disappointing sixth in the Del Mar Futurity, but the Tim Yakteen pupil had romped in his prior start over El Magnifico and Indispensable. El Magnifico has settled for second-best on both of his outings, having chased Muth home in his debut.