Fierceness (USA)
March 28, 2021 – Living
City of Light (USA) x Nonna Bella (USA), by Stay Thirsty (USA)
Family 20
March 28, 2021 – Living
City of Light (USA) x Nonna Bella (USA), by Stay Thirsty (USA)
Family 20
Fierceness followed a frustrating in-and-out pattern in his races, but when he was on his game, there were few better in North America. The champion American 2-year-old of 2023, he was a Grade 1 winner again at 3 and 4, yet always left the tantalizing impression that he might have accomplished even more.
Race record
14 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$5,785,320
2023:
2024:
2025:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2023)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category and 123 in the Mile category on the 2024 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 3 pounds below overall co-highweights City of Troy and Laurel River (who earned their best ratings in the Intermediate category) and 1 pound below Charyn in the Mile category. Fierceness also tied with Sierra Leone as the best 3-year-old on dirt.
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2025 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 5 pounds below Calandagan (who earned his best rating in the Intermediate category) and 3 pounds below the best dirt performers, Forever Young and Sovereignty.
As an individual
A powerful, muscular, well-balanced bay horse reminiscent of his broodmare sire, Stay Thirsty, Fierceness liked to race close to the pace. He had surgery on a rear ankle late in 2024 after a problem was detected during a post-Breeders’ Cup physical.
As a stallion
Fierceness entered stud in Kentucky in 2026 at Ashford Stud. His first foals will come to the races in 2029.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fierceness was bred and owned by Mike Repole’s Repole Stable. Following the colt’s 3-year-old season, Coolmore America bought into him, and Fierceness raced afterward in the names of Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor, and Mrs. John Magnier. He was trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden to his score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by John Velazquez. Fierceness entered stud in 2026 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Fierceness is inbred 5x5 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is a full brother to 2024 Futurity Stakes (USA-G3) winner Mentee.
Fierceness was produced from the winner Nonna Bella, a half sister to 2016 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Outwork (by Uncle Mo). Nonna Bella’s dam is Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia (by Empire Maker), a half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Cairo Prince (by Pioneerof the Nile, by Empire Maker). Nonna Mia is also a half sister to Heavenly Vision (by Forestry), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Train the Trainer (by Dialed In).
Nonna Mia, in turn, is out of the listed stakes-winning Holy Bull mare Holy Bubbette. A half sister to 1993 Forward Gal Breeders’ Cup Stakes (USA-G2) winner Sum Runner (by Summing), Holy Bubbette is also a half sister to Ms. Louisett (by Siphon), second dam of Grade 3 winner Great Escape. Holy Bubbette and her sisters are out of the Accipiter mare Juliac, a half sister to 1975 Oil Capitol Handicap (USA-G3) winner Marauding (by Warfare). The female line traces back to 1939 American champion 2-year-old filly Now What.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Fierceness winning the 2024 Travers Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXQ4Ys4vlcs.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 16, 2026
Race record
14 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$5,785,320
2023:
- Won FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
2024:
- Won Curlin Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Draftkings Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Holy Bull Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
2025:
- Won Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- Won Alysheba Stakes presented by Sentient Jet (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs; new track record 1:40.66)
- 2nd Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2023)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category and 123 in the Mile category on the 2024 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 3 pounds below overall co-highweights City of Troy and Laurel River (who earned their best ratings in the Intermediate category) and 1 pound below Charyn in the Mile category. Fierceness also tied with Sierra Leone as the best 3-year-old on dirt.
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2025 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 5 pounds below Calandagan (who earned his best rating in the Intermediate category) and 3 pounds below the best dirt performers, Forever Young and Sovereignty.
As an individual
A powerful, muscular, well-balanced bay horse reminiscent of his broodmare sire, Stay Thirsty, Fierceness liked to race close to the pace. He had surgery on a rear ankle late in 2024 after a problem was detected during a post-Breeders’ Cup physical.
As a stallion
Fierceness entered stud in Kentucky in 2026 at Ashford Stud. His first foals will come to the races in 2029.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fierceness was bred and owned by Mike Repole’s Repole Stable. Following the colt’s 3-year-old season, Coolmore America bought into him, and Fierceness raced afterward in the names of Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor, and Mrs. John Magnier. He was trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden to his score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by John Velazquez. Fierceness entered stud in 2026 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Fierceness is inbred 5x5 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is a full brother to 2024 Futurity Stakes (USA-G3) winner Mentee.
Fierceness was produced from the winner Nonna Bella, a half sister to 2016 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Outwork (by Uncle Mo). Nonna Bella’s dam is Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia (by Empire Maker), a half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Cairo Prince (by Pioneerof the Nile, by Empire Maker). Nonna Mia is also a half sister to Heavenly Vision (by Forestry), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Train the Trainer (by Dialed In).
Nonna Mia, in turn, is out of the listed stakes-winning Holy Bull mare Holy Bubbette. A half sister to 1993 Forward Gal Breeders’ Cup Stakes (USA-G2) winner Sum Runner (by Summing), Holy Bubbette is also a half sister to Ms. Louisett (by Siphon), second dam of Grade 3 winner Great Escape. Holy Bubbette and her sisters are out of the Accipiter mare Juliac, a half sister to 1975 Oil Capitol Handicap (USA-G3) winner Marauding (by Warfare). The female line traces back to 1939 American champion 2-year-old filly Now What.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Fierceness winning the 2024 Travers Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXQ4Ys4vlcs.
Fun facts
- Fierceness’s margin of 13½ lengths in the Florida Derby was a record for the race, and his victory gave jockey John Velazquez a record sixth win in the race.
- Fierceness was the third consecutive member of his male line to win four Grade 1 stakes events during his racing career.
- Fierceness was a third-generation runner for Repole Stable and Todd Pletcher, who had campaigned his dam, Nonna Bella. his broodmare sire, Stay Thirsty; and his second dam, Nonna Mia.
Last updated: September 16, 2026