LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fierceness has been named the 5-2 morning line favorite for the upcoming 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and will attempt to make history in next Saturday’s milestone race as the first entrant to win in 45 attempts from 17th place. position.
The Todd Pletcher-trained colt enters the 1 1/4-mile opening leg of the Triple Crown races on May 4 after a dominant 13¹/₂-length victory in last month’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and finished third in as long as 3 years.
Fierceness aims to give the Hall of Fame trainer his third Derby victory and first since 2017 with Always Dreaming.
Todd Pletcher’s barn after a Friday morning workout at Churchill Downs. Matt Stone/The Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Additionally, Tarifa, a Brad Cox-trained filly, is the 7-2 morning favorite for Friday’s Kentucky Oaks after placing 8th.
Sierra Leone, whose 155 points dominated Derby qualifying, clinched second place as the 3-1 second choice for the inaugural $5 million Grade I race for 3-year-olds.
The son of Malibu Moon’s Gun Runner and Heavenly Love rallied from deep to win both starts this year, including a thrilling trip in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland three weeks ago, which followed a difficult entry to the door.
Catching Freedom is the 8-1 Derby third choice from the No. 14 post and will aim to give Cox his first outright Derby victory after Mandaloun was elevated to 2021 Derby winner following disqualification of the deceased colt Medina Spirit for a failed post-race drug test.
Tarifa will begin Friday’s Oaks from the No. 8 post as a 7-2 favorite.
She won all three starts this season to lead the Oaks Trail with 150 points and has won four of five lifetime starts while earning $456,000.
The dark brown filly will attempt to give Louisville-born Cox his third Oaks victory and first since 2020 with Shedaresthedevil.
Just FYI, trained by Hall of Famer and four-time Eclipse winner Bill Mott, is the 9-2 second choice in Friday’s $1.5 million Oaks and will start from the 13th post.
Leslie’s Rose, a Pletcher-trained filly, is the 4-1 third choice from the No. 14 outpost, looking to continue her victory in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 5.
The draw was held for the first time on the opening night of Churchill Downs’ spring competition and a week before the landmark race, two days earlier than in recent years.
Post time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. Eastern Time.
Friday’s Oaks is scheduled for release at 5:51 p.m.
New York Post
