The contenders for the Breeders’ Cup are ahead with 14 players

Five possible Breeders’ Cup contenders were among the graded stakes winners with published works on Thursday.

They contain WildnessGrade 1 winner Travers and Jim Dandy (G2) in his last two starts, and MenteeWinner of the Futurity (G3), most recently at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Both are Repole Stable’s own breeds and are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Fierceness, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and one of the leading contenders for this year’s Classic, sprinted five furlongs to the outside of the stakes-placed Classic Catch and broke off about a length behind his workmate before settling with him in the turn could . According to New York Racing Association timekeepers, Fierceness was pushed along the lane to overtake Classic Catch and pulled away from him through the barrier, completing the five furlongs in 1:01.69 and cantering out in 1:14.67 .

“It was an excellent breeze again, pretty much what we’re used to,” Pletcher told the NYRA media team. “Very relaxed throughout, finished well, galloped well. He has always been a truly exceptional workhorse, quite a push button. It seems like he does it so easily.

“We wanted a good, solid job today and I thought we did that,” Pletcher added.

Mentee will be directed to either the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf or the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, with Pletcher saying the Juvenile Turf will likely be the first preference. Together with Noble Confessor he covered half a mile. Mentee was about half a length behind his colleague in the corner, but the pair came together to finish in tandem on the track, completing the four furlongs in 49.39 seconds before Mentee inch by inch clearing the barrier and galloped out in 1:02.58.

“I thought it was a good job from him,” Pletcher said. “It seemed like he was moving well. He has a great personality, is very relaxed and easy to train.”

Other possible horses that had work on Thursday included Far Bridge, Mullikin and Nooni.

Here are the details of Thursday’s work for the 14 graded stakes winners on the tab.

Distant bridge (English Channel), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, 2024 Sword Dancer, 2023 Belmont Derby Invitational), completed five furlongs in 1:01.4 on turf at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the only work from a distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) over 1 1/2 miles on the Belmont turf at the Big A on September 28 for trainer Christophe Clement.

Wildness (City of Light), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Travers, 2024 Florida Derby, 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), completed five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of three works over the distance. His previous work was seven days ago when he completed five furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start, he won the Draftkings Travers (G1) over 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on August 24 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Mullikin (Violence), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Forego), completed five furlongs in 1:00.8 at Keeneland on Thursday morning. It was the second fastest of 15 works at this distance. His previous work was seven days ago when he completed five furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he won the Forego (G1) over seven furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on August 24 for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

Stilleto boy (Shackleford), a Grade 1 (2023 Santa Anita Handicap) winner, completed five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Turfway Park on Thursday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 16 works at this distance. His previous work was six days ago when he completed four furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start, he placed seventh in the Lukas Classic (G2) over 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on September 28 for trainer Ed Moger Jr.

Coffee in bed (Curlin), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Santa Maria), completed four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the 15th fastest of 16 works at this distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed second in the Dark Mirage on September 21 for trainer Richard Mandella when she ran a mile on the Los Alamitos main track.

Instant coffee (Bolt d’Oro), a Grade 2 (Kentucky Jockey Club 2022) winner, completed five furlongs in 1:00.7 at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of twelve works over the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed ninth in a one-mile allowance race on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on Sept. 26 for trainer Chad Summers.

Red Route One (Gun Runner), a Grade 2 (2024 New Orleans Classic) winner, completed four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning. It was the 38th fastest of 52 races at this distance. His previous work was six days ago when he completed four-eighths of a mile at Churchill Downs. In his last start, he won the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) over 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Prairie Meadows on July 6 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

temple (Temple City), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Mac Diarmida), completed four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Thursday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 22 works at this distance. His previous work was 16 days ago when he completed five furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start, he won a one-mile allowance race on the turf at Belterra Park on August 24 for trainer Mike Maker.

Kinza (Carpe Diem), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2024 Santa Ysabel, 2024 Las Virgenes), completed four furlongs in 51.4 seconds at Los Alamitos on Thursday morning. From a distance it was the slowest of seven works. Her previous work was 11 days ago when she completed three-eighths of a mile at Los Alamitos. In her last start, she placed second in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) on April 6 for trainer Bob Baffert, running 1 1/16 miles on the Santa Anita main track.

City lights (Mr. Big), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Palos Verdes), completed five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the second fastest of 15 works at this distance. His previous work was six days ago when he completed three-eighths of a mile at Santa Anita. In his last start he finished third in the Pat O’Brien (G2) on August 24, running seven furlongs on the main track at Del Mar for trainer Richard Mandella.

Mentee (City of Light), a Grade 3 (2024 Futurity) winner, covered four furlongs in 49.3 seconds at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of 14 works at this distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Futurity (G3) over six furlongs on the turf at Belmont in the Big A on October 4 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

money supply (Practical Joke), a Grade 3 winner (Mineshaft 2024), covered four furlongs in 52.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning. It was the slowest of 52 works from a distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he finished ninth in the one-mile handicap race on the turf at Kentucky Downs on September 1 for trainer Joe Sharp.

Nooni (Win Win Win), a Grade 3 (2024 Sorrento) winner, completed five furlongs in 59.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of 15 works over the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed second in the Oak Leaf (G2) on October 5 for trainer Bob Baffert, traveling 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita.

man of society (Good Magic), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Matt Winn), completed four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the fifth fastest of 14 works at this distance. His previous work was eight days ago when he completed four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start, he placed third in the West Virginia Derby (G3) on August 4, traveling 1 1/8 miles on the Mountaineer main track for trainer Danny Gargan.