The fields for the 14 races that comprise the Breeders’ Cup World Championships really begin to come into focus in summer and fall. This regular feature will offer a snapshot profile of one of the previous weekend’s standout stars, usually a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series winner, and whether I’m buying or selling their chances to win Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.

This week we take a closer look at DraftKings Travers Stakes winner Fierceness, who won a thrilling edition of the “Mid-Summer Derby” over Thorpedo Anna and now will train up to the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Accomplishments: It’s not often that a racehorse wins a marquee race and cements his credentials as a top contender for an Eclipse Award yet gets overshadowed in much of the post-race discission. That’s what is happening with DraftKings Travers Stakes winner Fierceness, and I think it’s selling what he accomplished short.

There is no doubt that Thorpedo Anna ran gallantly in finishing second to Fierceness in the Aug. 24 “Mid-Summer Derby” at Saratoga Race Course, and the filly should rightfully be lauded for a terrific effort when facing males for the first time.

Fierceness, however, also stepped up to the plate in a big way in the Travers and proved he could run back-to-back monster races and excel at 1 ¼ miles. Given the 1 ¼-mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 2 at Del Mar is the next stop for Fierceness, the Travers was a major test aced that solidified the City of Light colt as a serious win contender at the World Championships. It would have been difficult to say that with any conviction before the Travers.

Not only that, but Fierceness also showed me something in terms of tenacity. Thorpedo Anna, a rising star, came at him determinedly through the final furlong of the race and Fierceness fought gamely to prevail by a head.

While the final furlong in :13.27 was not especially fast, Fierceness seized command in the race with a powerful quarter-mile in :24.34 to open a one-length lead after one mile in the Travers. He then extended that lead with an eighth of a mile in :12.47 under jockey John Velazquez to build a two-length advantage near the eighth pole that helped him ensure a victory.

The every-other-race is a dud narrative can now be put to bed as Fierceness has won three of his last four races. Make no mistake, Fierceness is still a bit inconsistent – clunkers in last year’s Champagne Stakes and the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve in May can’t be dismissed – but it sure seems like Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher might be finding out the right buttons to push on a talented, but somewhat enigmatic colt.

Velazquez and Fierceness. (Anne M. Eberhardt/BloodHorse)

Wins in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby and Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun bookended the Derby disappointment, and the experience Fierceness has gained this year has made him a better racehorse.

“I think he’s shown his versatility now,” Pletcher said. “In the Jim Dandy, he was able to kind of stalk and that allowed Johnny to have confidence that he could do that, and he could ride him accordingly in the Travers. I think all of that is just experience on his part and continuing to physically and mentally develop.”

Speed Figures: Speed figures have never been the issue for Fierceness. When he runs well, the Mike Repole homebred is a blazing fast racehorse – the fastest in the 3-year-old male division by a not insignificant margin. He equaled a career-best 110 Equibase Speed Figure in the Travers and the 111 Beyer Speed Figure earned in the Travers was a new top, one tick better than the 110 he earned in the Florida Derby. He will now have 10 weeks of rest before the Breeders’ Cup Classic, so another improvement is very possible.

Looking Ahead: There is really not a ton on the agenda for Fierceness other than keeping him healthy and happy for 2 ½ months leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic a little over two months from now.

“He ran so well in the Jim Dandy with plenty of time in between races, so I think we feel like we can probably have him ready to run his best,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said he probably will stay in Saratoga Springs through September and take advantage of the cooler weather before shipping to Keeneland Race Course for final preparations for the World Championships.

Fierceness does not need to improve all that much to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He’s elite when he brings his “A” race to the track, so his chances rest primarily in the hands of Pletcher to have him primed for a peak effort Nov. 2 at Del Mar. He’s one of the most likely winners of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, so this long-time Fierceness doubter is buying stock and eating some crow.