Fierceness camp ready for Classic City Of Troy showdown

put himself forward as the main American threat to City Of Troy’s Breeders’ Cup Classic ambitions when claiming a brave victory in the Travers Stakes at .

Johnny Velazquez sent his mount into the lead turning for home, sweeping past Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch and quickly opening up a three-length gap.

Kentucky Oaks heroine Thorpedo Anna stayed on strongly to mount a late challenge but finished a head down at the line, with the Coolmore-owned Sierra Leone back in third.

Mike Repole, owner-breeder of Fierceness, told www.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.”

Fierceness  beat Sierra Leone in the Grade Two Jim Dandy Stakes at last month and returned to the track to secure a third elite-level success in the Travers.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said: “He always trains exceptionally well. He doesn’t give you negative signs, but he had never given me so many positive signs leading into this race.

“The way he was eating, his energy level, the way he was galloping, his breezes were super. 

"He did them easily. Everything was giving me confidence to run him back in four weeks.”