Nysos Takes On Journalism; Fierceness In The 2025 Pacific Classic

Nysos, the 8/5 morning line favorite, has been nothing short of brilliant throughout his career, one that spans just six races halfway through his four-year-old year. The $550,000 son of top sire Nyquist spent exactly 15 months on the sidelines with an undisclosed injury.

The gorgeous bay has clearly come back 100% from whatever it was, as he is about two feet short of being unbeaten, and by and large, untested through those six races.

He is five for five in the state of California and two for two on the Del Mar oval.

His training pattern, including ripping five furlongs in 58.4 last week, suggests he is sitting on yet another jaw-dropping performance.

The only thing one can question is that he is being asked to run further than he’s ever run before.

Sometimes, running 1 1/4 miles for the first time can yield strange results. Based on his breeding and the way he finished his last race, it certainly appears on the surface that the distance will not be an issue.

Journalism

Fan favorite and Preakness and Haskell Stakes winner Journalism looks to have the best chance of winning should something go awry with Nysos.

Journalism, a beautiful, well-bred (by Curlin out of Grade 3 winner Mopotism), $875,000 colt has a nice mixture of talent and determination. Both were on display in his Preakness performance that became an instant classic.

In the early stages of that race, this athletic colt was making his move to the lead but got “squeezed” by two competitors, losing all his forward momentum. He looked hopelessly beaten (some five lengths behind) with just 200 yards remaining.

It was as if he saw the leader far out in front, targeted him, lowered himself to the ground, and sprinted by to win in a sensational performance.

Given a brief freshening, Journalism, who has won six of nine career starts, is another who has been working very well in the morning for this assignment.

“Journalism has emerged from yesterday’s workout in exceptional shape and seems to be looking for a fight,” trainer Mike McCarthy said on August 24th.

A fight is exactly what this race will be. Based on Journalism’s stellar career record, however, there’s no reason to expect anything other than another big effort from this fan favorite in the Pacific Classic. It’s one that should net him a second, or possibly a first, place finish.

Fierceness

Last but not least is the enigmatic Fierceness, who could win this race by a colossal margin or lose it by one depending on which Fierceness shows up.

The best way to describe this colt is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Which Fierceness will we see? The Dr Jekyll version, who set a track record in the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs while on cruise control the whole way around? Will it be the same one who so valiantly won the Travers Stakes last year, fending off Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the process?

Will it be the Fierceness instead who has been beaten at short odds in his last two races, the same one who was beaten a country mile in the 2024 Kentucky Derby?

Trainer Todd Pletcher thinks it might be the Dr. Jekyll version: “I think the way he’s been training, it gives the impression he’s sitting on a good one now.” Pletcher said.

“I think the way he’s been training, it gives the impression he’s sitting on a good one now.”

One thing is for certain. In drawing the number one post position, Fierceness will have no choice but to come out running. This son of the up-and-coming sire City of Light should be your early leader.

Having said that, there is a direct correlation between some of his bad performances and being “bothered” by other horses at the start. By drawing the extreme inside post, it is almost certain he will encounter some.

End Of My Pacific Classic rant

1. Nysos proves his brilliance is real and good at any distance.
2. Journalism could be a serious menace to Nysos, however, he must take on older, more mature horses.
3. Fierceness is tough to trust with such a volatile career.

Little Bets N Pieces

**** Ron Turcotte, the Hall of Fame jockey who was the regular rider of the legendary Secretariat, died on Friday at his hometown in New Brunswick, Canada, he was 84. 

**** Grade:1 winner Locked will be using the Sept. 27 Woodward Stakes as his final prep for the Nov. 1 Breeders Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Following a :48.4 breeze this past Wednesday at Saratoga, trainer Todd Pletcher said the Santa Anita Handicap winner would be pointed to the 1 1/8-mile Woodward at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“He had a good breeze today, so we’re dialed in on the Woodward,” Pletcher said. “He won two races at Aqueduct last fall, including the Cigar Mile. He likes the track and it sets him better for the Classic as opposed to others who have been running steadily and could use more time before the Breeders’ Cup.”

*** Trainer Bill Mott said Sunday that Sovereignty came out of his dominant Travers victory in good shape and will just train up to the Classic without a race in between. “I just don’t think it’s necessary,” Mott said. “I think we’ve done pretty well with a few of them running here and then going directly to the Breeders’ Cup.”