Repole, Pletcher Hold Strong Hand in 3YO Turf Stakes

Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher are poised for a big day at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3 as their champion Fierceness  will be joined on the card by three of the barn's Breeders' Cup alumni.

Noted  and Agate Road  will go head-to-head in the 1 1/16-mile $175,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes (G3T).

After beginning his career on turf, Noted won the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park on dirt, defeating Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect Dornoch  by a length.

Back to the turf, Noted was defeated a nose by Can Group  in the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. After an unsuccessful attempt at the top level on dirt in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park, Pletcher switched the son of Cairo Prince   back to grass where he rallied to win Gulfstream's Dec. 9 Pulpit Stakes by a neck.

"He was kind of bottled up at the start and it looked like he didn't have anywhere to go," Pletcher said. "Once he finally got into the clear he showed a great turn of foot and closed a lot of ground in a short period of time."

Video: Pulpit S. (BT)

Agate Road, owned in partnership with St. Elias Stable, won the Oct. 4 Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack. After a fifth to Unquestionable  in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), the Quality Road   colt was second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths in Gulfstream's Jan. 6 Dania Beach Stakes after Lugamo Racing Stable's Tocayo , who also returns in this spot for trainer Steve Klesaris, got away with setting an easy pace.

"The fractions never really developed," Pletcher said. "I thought he closed really well. He showed up and ran hard like he always does. I believe more distance is definitely better for him."

Behind Noted in the Bourbon was Qatar Racing and Hunter Valley Farm's First World War , who finished fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Since then, the son of War Front   switched to dirt where he was second in allowance company to Parchment Party  Nov. 9 and second by a half-length in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream.

The Kitten's Joy is race 11 with a post time of 5:08 p.m. ET.

Sweetest Chant Stakes

Pletcher and Repole also send Life's an Audible  to compete in the 1 1/16-mile $175,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T).

Both starts in graded stakes company for the daughter of Audible   were against Breeders' Cup winner Hard to Justify , who she finished second to by a half-length in the Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct.

After an eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), she was defeated 2 1/4 lengths while finishing second to Ozara  in the Jan. 6 Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream.

Video: Ginger Brew S. (BT)

Qatar Racing's Milliat  is familiar with finishing second to Ozara after a slow start led to a neck defeat in Gulfstream's Wait a While Stakes in her Dec. 9 United States debut.

Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables join the action with debut winner Dynamic Pricing . In a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight Nov. 4 at Aqueduct, the Night of Thunder  filly stalked the pace and defeated next-out winner Way to Be Marie  by a nose, posting an 82 Equibase Speed Figure.

The Sweetest Chant is race 8 with a post time of 3:38 ET.