SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It may have been the coldest morning of the fall in Saratoga on Thursday, but that didn’t stop five likely Breeders’ Cup horses from getting their workouts in over two surfaces. Topping the quintet was Fierceness, a likely top-three betting choice for the $7 million Classic, who went five furlongs in 1:01.69 over the Oklahoma dirt track on the watch of Saratoga clocker Dave Norton. Fierceness, who went out at 8 a.m., when the temperature was just above the freezing mark, started about a length behind his workmate Classic Catch, quickly caught up to him about a furlong into the move, and then finished two lengths clear as he got his last quarter in 24.85 seconds. Fierceness galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.67, seven furlongs in 1:27.94, and a mile in 1:42.57. “Excellent breeze, pretty much what we’ve become accustomed to seeing from him, very relaxed throughout,” Pletcher said immediately afterward. “He finished up nicely and galloped out really well.” Speaking of the mile gallop-out time, Pletcher said, “That was pretty solid. This track is not producing really fast times. It seems like everything that he’s been doing, especially on the gallops-out are a couple of seconds faster than everyone else.” :: BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Pletcher said Fierceness would have one more work in Saratoga next week before shipping to California on Oct. 27. Right after that team went, Pletcher sent out Mentee – the 2-year-old full brother to Fierceness – for a half-mile work that went in 49.13 seconds. Mentee worked on the outside of Noble Confessor, a maiden who was an unlucky second in the Pilgrim Stakes. “It looked like he was moving very well,” Pletcher said of Mentee. “He’s got a great personality, very laid back, easy to train. He’s been good.” Pletcher said Mentee, who won the Grade 3 Futurity at six furlongs on turf, will be pre-entered for both the Juvenile Turf and the Juvenile Turf Sprint with first preference given to the Juvenile Turf. Noble Confessor is also under consideration for the Juvenile Turf. Pletcher confirmed that Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Tapit Trice in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Dylan Davis rode him to victory in the Grade 2 Woodward, though Ortiz had ridden him in his two previous starts, including a victory in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup. Far Bridge, Governor Sam work on turf The frost that covered the Oklahoma turf course early Thursday morning had dissipated by 10 a.m., in time for two-time Grade 1 winner Far Bridge to get a workout in for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. Far Bridge, working by himself, went five furlongs in 1:01.43, getting his last three furlongs in 35.62 seconds while galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.66. It was Far Bridge’s first work since he won the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Sept. 28. “It was a very good work, [off] easy, slow by design, finished very well,” said Miguel Clement, assistant to his father, Christophe. “That’s perfect for him. He gallops out very strong, very well, every furlong he picks it up. It was easy for him, effortless.” Clement said Far Bridge would have an in-company work next week before shipping to Del Mar. Also working on the turf Thursday was Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Governor Sam, who went a half-mile in 50.61 seconds, getting his final quarter in 23.90 seconds. The work came just 11 days after he won the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland for his fourth consecutive victory. Trainer George Weaver said Governor Sam working slow early fractions of 26.71 seconds was by design after he felt the horse did too much too early in his work leading up to the Indian Summer. :: ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save 41% off the retail price. “I didn’t want him going off quick today,” Weaver said. “I’d rather him finishing better than you start.” Weaver said that would be the only work Governor Sam would have before the Juvenile Turf Sprint. “He just ran 11 days ago. Turf sprinters need to be on their toes, so we’ll leave it at that,” Weaver said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.