Following a striking 3 1/4-length victory over three-time grade 1-winning 3-year-old Journalism in the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, Fierceness surged from ninth into second in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll. Fierceness trails only Godolphin's standout 3-year-old Sovereignty, this year's Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1) winner for trainer Bill Mott.
Though 4-year-old Fierceness advanced sharply by total points, he did not receive any first-place votes from the national media participating in week 32 of the poll. Sovereignty grabbed 27 of the 30 available first-place votes, while fellow 4-year-olds Mindframe and Thorpedo Anna received the others, two and one, respectively.
Mindframe—interfered with in the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), resulting in jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. being unseated and the colt being corralled by an outrider—dipped one spot from second to third.
Todd Pletcher trains both Fierceness and Mindframe, who both share common ownership. Fierceness races for breeder Repole Stable and the Coolmore-affiliated Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Susan Magnier. Repole Stable co-owns Mindframe with St. Elias Stables.
Sierra Leone, Thorpedo Anna, Journalism, Book'em Danno, Nysos, Deterministic, and trouble-free Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Antiquarian round out the top 10 of the standings.
The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll represents horses competing for Horse of the Year. The Top Thoroughbred Poll concludes Nov. 4, a few days after the two-day Breeders' Cup this fall at Del Mar.
The full poll and votes by voter can be found online.
