Fierceness secured a thrilling victory in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, edging out Thorpedo Anna by a head in a dramatic finish. The race, run over 1 1/4 miles, ended with a time of 2:01.79, and Fierceness, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, paid out $9.80, $5.70, and $3.40 to his backers.

Fierceness, who was last year’s 2-year-old champion, had entered the race with something to prove after a disappointing run as the beaten favorite in May’s Kentucky Derby. His victory in the Travers was a redemptive moment for the colt, whose previous performances had drawn criticism for inconsistency. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher expressed his satisfaction, noting that Fierceness had faced unjust criticism for not winning every race. He also praised Thorpedo Anna, who closed the gap impressively in the final stretch, but was ultimately held off by Fierceness.

John Velazquez, celebrating his third career win in the Travers Stakes, lauded Fierceness's resilience and ability to stand up against strong competitors. Fierceness's victory in this prestigious race further cements his status as a top contender in the racing world.

Thorpedo Anna, starting from the No. 1 post in front of a crowd of 47,844 at Saratoga, finished a close second. Despite a strong performance and a near-perfect trip, she fell just short of becoming the first filly to win the Travers since Lady Rotha in 1915. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. expressed confidence during the race, especially as they turned for home, but acknowledged that Fierceness’s determined effort kept them from overtaking him.

Sierra Leone, who had narrowly missed winning the Kentucky Derby, finished third as the 8-5 favorite. He paid $2.20 to show. Despite his status as the favorite, Sierra Leone couldn’t close the gap on the leaders. Belmont and Haskell winner Dornoch, co-owned by former Major League Baseball outfielder Jayson Werth, finished fourth. Trainer Danny Gargan noted that Dornoch didn’t have his usual finishing kick, though he had been in a good position throughout the race, offering no excuses for the outcome.

Thorpedo Anna’s bid to become the first filly to win the Travers in over a century fell just short, though her trainer, Kenny McPeek, expressed pride in her effort. She was only the fifth filly to compete in the Travers since 1960, making her performance all the more noteworthy. McPeek reflected on the race, noting that everything had gone according to plan except for the fact that one horse, Fierceness, stood in her way.

Looking ahead, Fierceness is now being pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in November, where he will face top competition in one of the year's most anticipated races. However, a rematch with Thorpedo Anna seems unlikely, as McPeek indicated that she would likely be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Distaff, a race specifically for fillies, rather than taking on the males again in the Classic.