August 25, 2024
TORONTO– By Matthew Lomon
Thanks for the Compliment
When the only knock against Fierceness reads more like a compliment, it says a whole lot about how highly regarded he is amongst his contemporaries.
The 3-year-old colt, who gained somewhat of a reputation for not being able to win two consecutive heavyweight stakes, erased all doubts with a thrilling triumph in the hotly contested $1.25 million Travers (G1) on Sunday at Saratoga.
Pitted against some of the top 3-year-old’s going in 8-5 favourite Sierra Leone, three-time grade 1 stakes winner Thorpedo Anna (3-1), and 2024 Belmont (G1) champ Dornoch (9-2), Fierceness staked his claim for the top spot in the sophomore division with a narrow clearance over Thorpedo Anna.
At 7-2, the victory by a head’s difference paid $9.80.
(Hawk) Eye on the Prize
There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being named after WNBA star Caitlin Clark, but like her notorious namesake, Caitlinhergrtness proved she can score from anywhere.
The 3-year-old filly is now Canadian racing royalty after outrunning 3-5 closing line favourite My Boy Prince to take the 165th running of the $1 million King’s Plate on Friday afternoon at Woodbine.
Entered as the only filly in the 12-horse field, Caitlinhergrtness reminded everyone that she’s one of the most special talents on the Canadian circuit regardless of division.
Only scratching the surface of her sky-high ceiling, the Kevin Attard trainee is poised for a breakout 2025 campaign.
Closing at 9-1, Caitlinhergrtness paid a silky $20.70 for the historic three-quarter length conquest.
Are You Not Entertained?
A modest 5-horse field isn’t exactly what racing fans hope for, but if future quintets are even vaguely reminiscent of Saturday’s $750,000 Sword Dancer (G1T), all will certainly be well.
The first of five grade 1 events on Saratoga’s sizzling Saturday card set the tone for an exhilarating day of racing at the Upstate New York Track.
Leading the charge was an unexpected hero by the name of Far Bridge, who at 8-1 jumped out to the head of the pack and never looked back.
Running out of post three, the well-travelled 4-year-old colt (12 career starts across six tracks) led coast-to-coast to complete the upset over 4-5 favourite Measured Time (GB), who finished a length behind in second.
The surprise score paid a clean $18.40.
Skip in the Park
Nearly one year to the day after securing last year’s edition of the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2), Skippylongstocking didn’t skip a beat in his return to the West Virginia racing venue.
The 26-start veteran successfully defended his Charles Town Classic crown with a commanding 5 ¾-length triumph under the Friday night lights.
Following the lead of veteran rider Jose Ortiz, Skippylongstocking wasted no time asserting his dominance over the field of nine.
Together, the pair dictated the pace of the 1 1/8-mile affair, forcing their foes to play a challenging game of catch-up throughout.
With their plan executed to perfection, Ortiz and the multiple graded stakes winning 5-year-old pulled away for the easy victory.
The textbook display paid $4.20.
Pain in the Neck
The 2024 season has been one to remember for Domestic Product, who collected his third graded stakes trophy in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga.
Making his sixth start of the year in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1), Domestic Product had his work cut out for him against the accomplished duo of Prince of Monaco (2-1) and Book’em Danno (7-2).
The dynamic trio spent a good portion of the 7-furlong tilt in close quarters before Domestic Product and Prince of Monaco separated in the latter stages.
Locked stride-for-stride as the finish line approached, Domestic Product was able to eke ahead of his rival to clear the goal by a neck.
The fourth win of the 3-year-old colt’s career (9: 4-2-0) paid an even $11.