While the specific comeback races have not yet been decided, owner Mike Repole has some key goals in mind for his stable's two stars, who both turned 4 on January 1st.
Repole bred and owns the Eclipse Award winner Fierceness and, along with Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable, is co-owner of the multiple Grade 1 placed Mindframe, both trained by Todd Pletcher.
As for Fierceness, Repole said the son of City of Delicate will compete in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap (the Met Mile) at Saratoga Race Course on June 7, as well as Saratoga's Grade 1 Whitney Stakes in August and a return trip to Del Mar indicated for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic on November 1st. In his last start, Fierceness finished second in the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.
“My three goals for Fierceness are no secret,” Repole said, referring to the Met Mile, Whitney and Classic. “You can do two or three more races, but these three are the goals.”
Repole predicted that Fierceness would make one or two preparations in April or May before the Met Mile. The colt underwent surgery on his hind ankle in the weeks following the Breeders' Cup. Repole also said he would be willing to ride Fierceness on a grass pole in his final year of racing before becoming a stallion at Ashford Stud.
“If I had a chance and Todd didn’t turn it down, I would like to run Fierceness in a mile turf race,” Repole said. “I think he’s so good and so talented that he could be a Grade 1 turf winner.”
Mindframe, who has not competed since his runner-up finish in the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes on July 20, is considered a contender for the $12 million Dubai World Cup on April 5 at Meydan Racecourse.
“He will prepare and the first large race could be the Dubai World Cup. I would like to take myself, Todd and Mindframe to Dubai,” Repole said.
Mindframe, a Maryland-bred son of Constitution, has only competed in four races but placed second in both the 2024 Haskell and Belmont Stakes.
“He's an adult. He's fully grown. He looks fantastic. He might be the best four-year-old out there. “It’s already reached some ridiculous speed numbers and it’s only going to get bigger and better,” Repole said. “You would want to win the Whitney and/or the Classic with Mindframe, but for the rest of the year we can keep him and Fierceness separate.”
Mindframe completed three furlongs in :38.89 at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida on December 27.
Self-appointed commissioner of the advocacy group National Thoroughbred Alliance, Repole, said Mindframe will not compete in the Pegasus World Cup presented by Baccarat at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25 unless he submits a series of spectacular works in the coming weeks.
Repole named Crupi as his likely starter in the Pegasus World Cup. Crupi, who turned 5 on January 1st, is owned by Repole and Viola and is a Grade 2 winner who also placed in Grade 1.
