Fierceness a standout in Champagne Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct

By NY Hot List Staff | October 5, 2023

With the Breeders’ Cup just four weeks away, a big weekend of preps is on tap at the Belmont at the Big A meet. Among the most anticipated of them will be Saturday’s Champagne Stakes that will bring together New York’s top 2-year-old colts for a mile showdown that could punch a ticket to Santa Anita Park for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for the top finishers.

The $500,000 Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 8, 3:46 pm EDT.

(6) Fierceness (A) broke his maiden by 11 lengths in his debut for Todd Pletcher at Saratoga on a muddy sealed track as an even money favorite. He earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure which is one of the highest of the year for any 2-year-old. Fierceness is a home-bred for Repole Stable and is a son of City of Light who won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and a mare by Stay Thirsty who won the Travers for owner Mike Repole. (3) Timberlake had the lead briefly in the Hopeful (G1) as part of a stretch battle and finished second. Blinkers come off for the Brad Cox trainee that is also entered in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Saturday. (4) General Partner broke his maiden by four lengths in his second start for Chad Brown with a front-end effort. (5) El Grande O is stakes winning NY-bred for Linda Rice that ran six times and hit the board each time. He was second in the Skidmore against open company at Saratoga.

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