Saturday’s $1.25 million Travers (G1) at Saratoga lived up to its advance billing, and if there is one major takeaway from it, it’s that little separates the country’s top three-year-old colt and the overwhelming dominant three-year-old filly.
Fierceness put the disappointment of his performance in the Kentucky Derby (G1) this spring far behind him by winning the Travers, finishing well clear of Sierra Leone and Dornoch, his main rivals for division honors. However, the winning margin was a mere head over Thorpedo Anna, who turned in the best finish by a filly in the Travers since Hall of Famer Bed o’ Roses occupied the same slot in 1950.
Receiving an ideal rating trip under John Velazquez, Fierceness was in fourth place down the backside as Batten Down led, followed by Dornoch and a ground-saving Thorpedo Anna. Fierceness bid for the lead around the far turn and was up a length at the quarter pole as Batten Down and Dornoch began their retreats, but Thorpedo Anna remained within striking range entering the stretch.
Although Fierceness opened up to lead by two lengths in midstretch, Thorpedo Anna began to gobble up ground inside the final furlong and was just narrowly denied in her attempt to become the first of her sex to win the Midsummer Derby since Lady Rotha in 1915.
Fierceness, third choice in the wagering, paid $9.80 after completing 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.79 over a fast track. Sierra Leone, sent off as the 1.75-1 favorite, produced his customary good run but again settled for a minor award for the fourth race in a row. He finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Thorpedo Anna. There was a 6 1/2-length gap back to Dornoch, who was followed by Batten Down, Corporate Power, Unmatched Wisdom, and Honor Marie, who trailed throughout the 10-furlong journey.
It was the second Travers win for owner-breeder Mike Repole, who also won in 2011 with Fierceness’ broodmare sire, Stay Thirsty. It was the third Travers win for trainer Todd Pletcher, who also conditioned Stay Thirsty and Flower Alley (2005), and for Velazquez, who also guided Flower Alley and Code of Honor (2019).
Last year’s juvenile colt champion after a dominating win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) made up for a poor showing in the Champagne (G1), Fierceness continued to perform hot and cold through the first half of this season. After an upset loss in the Holy Bull (G3) to start the year, he rebounded with an emphatic win in the Florida Derby (G1) by a record 13 1/2 lengths. However, Fierceness backed out readily in the final quarter mile of the Kentucky Derby as the 3-1 favorite, finishing 15th of 20 after attending a fast pace.
Fierceness was back on song in his most recent start, beating Sierra Leone by a length in the Jim Dandy (G2) by Saratoga on July 27 while putting together back-to-back wins for the first time in his eight-race career.
“I really think the key to the success in the Jim Dandy and Travers was when we all made the decision to pass the Belmont (G1),” Pletcher said. “For whatever reason the Derby was really hard on him.”
Pletcher said Fierceness is likely to train up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, where his competition is expected to include several of his vanquished Travers foes, international stars City of Troy and Forever Young, and the best older horses expected to emerge from next week’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). It will not, however, include Thorpedo Anna, who will go back to competing with fillies and mares for the remainder of the year.
“She will most assuredly go to Parx if everything’s OK. She’s got four weeks to go to Parx,” trainer Kenny McPeek said, referring to the $1 million Cotillion (G1) for three-year-old fillies. “I see her (Breeders’ Cup) Distaff (G1), I don’t see her Classic. I don’t see her going against the colts.”
Bred in Kentucky, Fierceness is by City of Light and out of Nonna Bella, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Outwork.
