Pattern recognition is important in handicapping thoroughbreds, and no star in recent years was more predictable than Fierceness. Last year’s champion 2-year-old male alternated wins and losses in his first seven races. Entering the Travers Stakes, he was coming off a victory in the Jim Dandy, so he was expected to regress.

Surprise, surprise. Fierceness held off superstar filly Thorpedo Anna by a head in the Travers, showing grit to match his world-class talent. The colt who was thought to need everything to go his way had won a heavyweight fight with an Amazon princess. In about two minutes he proved he had heart and could stay 1¼ miles.

A repeat performance in the Classic against the best field he’s ever faced could make Fierceness the Horse of the Year. Pletcher thinks he’s coming into the Nov. 2 race the right way.

Post position:9

Odds: 3-1

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: Repole Stable

Career record: 8-5-0-1

Career earnings: $2,666,350

Age: 3

Last race: Travers Stakes (1^st), Saratoga, Aug. 24

Top Equibase speed figure: 110

Pedigree: City of Light-Nonna Bella, by Stay Thirsty

Color: Bay

Running style: Front-runner/stalker

Notes: Fierceness’ dam is Nonna Bella, “beautiful grandmother” in Italian. She was named for Repole’s late maternal grandmother, Assunta Guarnaccia, who was born near Naples, Italy … Repole and Pletcher took the Classic with Vino Rosso at Santa Anita in 2019. They won the last two Juveniles with Forte (2022) and Fierceness as well as with Uncle Mo in 2010 … Pletcher has 14 Breeders’ Cup wins, getting his first two in 2004 at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.