Travers Stakes (G1) winner Fierceness and runner-up Thorpedo Anna were separated by a head in their Aug. 24 showdown at Saratoga Race Course, and the margin was similar in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll, released Aug. 27.
The NTRA poll is conducted by national media and is meant to represent the competition for Horse of the Year. Fierceness, who was ranked ninth last week, tied Thorpedo Anna this week with 285 points, but the 3-year-old City of Light colt gained the top spot on account of his 11 first-place votes vs. Thorpedo Anna’s nine.
The top 10 horses shuffled spots, but none dropped out this week. The other biggest movers were Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch , who fell from No. 3 to No. 8 in reaction to his fourth-place Travers finish, and Saudi Cup (G1) winner Senor Buscador , who fell from No. 2 to No. 6 after his off-the-bench fourth in the Aug. 24 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. Senor Buscador did receive one first-place vote.
Other horses receiving first-place votes included No. 3 Adare Manor (two first-place votes), No. 4 Whitney Stakes (G1) winner Arthur’s Ride (3), No. 5 National Treasure (5), and No. 10 defending Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Master of the Seas , winner of the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1) April 12 at Keeneland in his only 2024 start.
See the full NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll results.
Fierceness’ Travers Win also had a measurable impact on the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) rankings, where the City of Light colt rose from No. 4 a week ago to No. 1 in the Aug. 27 edition.
Also jumping up five slots in the Longines rankings was Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) winner City of Troy . Connections are said to be strongly considering a run on dirt at the end of the year for the Kentucky-bred Justify colt. City of Troy is riding a remarkable three-race win streak, having previously won the Epsom Derby (G1) and Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) before his track-record-setting run at York.
