Fierceness emerged as a strong American contender for City Of Troy’s Breeders’ Cup Classic ambitions with a courageous victory in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
Johnny Velazquez guided Fierceness to the lead as they turned for home, overtaking Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch and quickly establishing a three-length advantage. Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna mounted a determined late challenge but fell just a head short at the finish, with Coolmore-owned Sierra Leone finishing in third.
Mike Repole, owner and breeder of Fierceness, told BloodHorse.com, “This is the best three-year-old in the country right now. I don’t think anyone can deny it. He’s pretty special, and he’s going to be pretty tough in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
The careers of Fierceness and City Of Troy have followed similar trajectories. Both were champion two-year-olds, with Fierceness winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita and City Of Troy dominating the Dewhurst at Newmarket.
Each experienced a significant setback early in their three-year-old seasons—City Of Troy faltered in the 2000 Guineas, while Fierceness finished a disappointing 15th in the Kentucky Derby as the favourite.
Since then, City Of Troy has bounced back with victories in the Derby at Epsom, the Coral-Eclipse, and the Juddmonte International, while Fierceness is also making a strong comeback. He defeated Sierra Leone in the Grade Two Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga last month before claiming another elite-level success in the Travers.
Trainer Todd Pletcher commented, “He always trains exceptionally well. He doesn’t show any negative signs, but leading up to this race, he showed so many positive signs. His eating, energy level, galloping, and breezes were all superb. Everything gave me the confidence to run him back in four weeks.”
Thorpedo Anna, despite her defeat, showed no loss of quality and is now set to return to racing against her own sex. Trainer Kenny McPeek is considering the Cotillion Stakes at Parx as her next target before aiming for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.