Fierceness trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2024 Kentucky Derby horse

Fierceness is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2024 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September.

The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 27. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.

Fierceness will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30. He currently ranks second on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 136.

Fierceness

Color: Bay

Bred in: Kentucky

Sire: City of Light

Dam: Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty

Price tag: Homebred

Owner: Repole Stable (Mike Repole). Repole is 0 for 7 in the Derby, his best finish coming with Mo Donegal (fifth) in 2022.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He has a record 64 starters in the Derby, winning with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017).

Jockey: John Velazquez. He’s 3 for 25 in the Derby, winning with Animal Kingdom (2011), Always Dreaming (2017) and Authentic (2020).

Record: 3-0-1 in five starts

Career earnings: $1,703,850

Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 136 (No. 2)

Last race: Won Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream by 13 ½ lengths over Catalytic

Running style: Near the front early

Notes: For the second straight year, Repole and Pletcher have a Florida Derby winner who could be the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Last year, Florida Derby winner Forte was scratched 10 hours before the Kentucky Derby because of a veterinarian’s concerns about a bruised right front foot. … Fierceness is looking to become just the third Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner to go on and win the Kentucky Derby, joining Street Sense (2006-07) and Nyquist (2015-16). … Nonna Bella, the dam of Fierceness and owned by Repole, was 2-0-1 in five career starts from 2017-18. Both of her wins came at Gulfstream Park.

What they’re saying: “That was a pretty awesome performance,” Pletcher said after the Florida Derby romp. “That’s what we see in the mornings when we breeze him, a special talent. That’s why it was so perplexing his two races that he didn't run brilliantly. He’s three times brilliant and two times has had off days.”

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

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