Fierceness to retire to Ashford Stud after the Breeders’ Cup Classic

Coolmore America and Mike Repole are delighted to announce that Fierceness will take up stud duties in 2026 at its base in Ashford Stud in Kentucky following his final start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic [Gr.1].

Fierceness opened his account at the first time of asking in a Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga in August of his 2YO season. Winning, geared down by 11¼ lengths, Fierceness was written up as a “no-brainer” TDN Rising Star.

“That was a pretty awesome performance… he’s a special talent,” commented Todd Pletcher, following his 2YO Championship-defining moment on just his third start, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile [Gr.1] at Santa Anita. He powered clear at the top of the stretch, leaving a top-class field of juveniles in his wake to score by the easiest of 6¼ lengths.

Fierceness notched his second top-level success in the Florida Derby [Gr.1] in emphatic style, crossing the line 13½-lengths clear of his nearest rival under a firm hold by Johnny Velazquez.

Already 2-from-2 at Saratoga, following his 2YO MSW and the Jim Dandy Stakes [Gr.2] success in late July, Fierceness returned to the Spa little over 3 weeks later to take one of the hottest renewals of the Travers Stakes [Gr.1]. Deploying his devastating acceleration at the top of the straight, Fierceness took 3 lengths out of the field, putting to the sword HOTY Thorpedo Anna in second, Eclipse Champion 3YO, Sierra Leone in third with Belmont Stakes [Gr.1] and Haskell Stakes [Gr.1] winner Dornoch 8½ lengths, further adrift in fourth.

Fierceness rounded off his 3YO campaign at the Breeders’ Cup Classic [Gr.1] at Del Mar. Having attended blistering fractions throughout, he burned off all but one of his rivals, subsequent Eclipse Champion 3YO, Sierra Leone with no less than 8 individual Gr.1 winners behind.

Targeting the Breeders’ Cup Classic [Gr.1] again in 2025, Fierceness remained in training and added a further two successes to his resume. He took the Alysheba Stakes [Gr.2] at Churchill Downs in a track record time in May, with a Pacific Classic Stakes [Gr.1] defeat of the top-class 3YO Journalism in late August, laying down a marker once again to any Breeders’ Cup Classic pretenders.

"Fierceness isn't just a racehorse - he's family. He represents everything we've built and believe in at Repole Stable. From the day he was born, we knew he was special,” commented owner Mike Repole. “He's a Grade 1 winner at 2, 3 and 4, a Breeders' Cup Champion, an Eclipse Award winner and a horse who showed heart, grit, and freakish talent."

“Fierceness hails from a young and hugely exciting family of his owner/breeder, Mike Repole,” commented Dermot Ryan. “His track record speaks for itself. A Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-winning Champion 2YO who further enhanced his profile with Grade 1 victories at 3 and 4 years, consistently posting massive Beyers in the process. He is an outstanding physical from a hugely successful sireline and out of a sister to Wood Memorial Stakes [Gr.1] winner, Outwork. We got together with Mike Repole with an outstanding Saratoga MSW, Eclipse Award and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-winner before, and we all know how good Uncle Mo turned out to be. With his credentials, there’s no reason to believe that Fierceness won’t be every bit as good.”