LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fierceness was named the 5-2 morning line favorite for the upcoming 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and will look to make history in next Saturday’s milestone race as the first entrant to win in 45 attempts from the No. 17 post position.
The Todd Pletcher-trained colt enters the 1 1/4-mile opening leg of the Triple Crown races on May 4 off a dominating 13 1/2-length win in last month’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and has a third-place finish as a 3-year-old. Fierceness aims to give the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer his third Kentucky Derby win and first since 2017 with Always Dreaming.
Coming just a year after Pletcher-trained favorite Forte was scratched hours before the “Run for the Roses” with a bruised right foot, Fierceness owner Mike Repole is glad to have another top choice, even with history working against the post position.
“We’re in a great spot,” Repole said. “If you could draw it up, you want to be somewhere outside and you don’t want the speed inside. It’s blessed, couldn’t have asked for a better (post) for us other than we found out that (No.) 17 is 0-for-44. And I’m 0-for-9, so we’re 0- for-53 combined, but we’re OK.”
Also, Brad Cox-trained filly Tarifa is the 7-2 morning line favorite for Friday’s Kentucky Oaks after drawing the No. 8 post on Saturday.