Photo:

Gary Johnson / Eclipse Sportswire

Leading 3-year-old colt Fierceness fired a bullet Thursday morning at Saratoga, and undefeated Nysos returned to work for Bob Baffert after a layoff of more than seven months.

Fierceness, winner of the Grade 1 Travers in his latest start, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.4, the fastest of five works at the distance, for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Nysos is 3-for-3, winning the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on Feb. 3 in his only start this year. He went four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Santa Anita. He began his career with a maiden win Oct. 21 at Santa Anita and followed that with a victory Nov. 19 in the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar. Nysos won his three races by an average of 8 3/4 lengths.

He was scratched the day before he was supposed to start March 3 at Santa Anita in the San Felipe (G2), with Baffert saying at the time that the colt had a “minor” setback.

Fierceness and Nysos were among seven graded-stakes winners with published works on Thursday.

Fierceness (City of Light), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Travers, 2024 Florida Derby, 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of five works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start, he won the Travers (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 24 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Mullikin (Violence), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Forego), worked five furlongs in 59.6 seconds at Keeneland on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of 12 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start, he won the Forego (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 24 for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

Tamara (Bolt d’Oro), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Del Mar Debutante), worked four furlongs in 48.2 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 23 works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she placed seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Julia Shining (Curlin), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Demoiselle), worked five furlongs in 1:03.2 at Saratoga on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of five works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In her last start, she placed fourth in the Allaire DuPont Distaff going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Pimlico on May 17 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Nysos (Nyquist), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2024 Robert B. Lewis, 2023 Bob Hope), worked four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 23 works at the distance. His previous work was 228 days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he won the Robert B. Lewis (G3) going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on Feb. 3 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Durante (Distorted Humor), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Bold Ruler), worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Churchill Training on Thursday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was four days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Training. In his last start, he placed sixth in an allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on Sept. 19 for trainer David Jacobson.

Raise Cain (Violence), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Gotham), worked five furlongs in 1:02.0 at Keeneland on Thursday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 12 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed fifth in an allowance race going 7 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs on Sept. 12 for trainer Ben Colebrook.