America’s principal home today is last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, the Todd Pletcher-trained Fierceness.

The colt is enjoying a very successful three-year-old season having recently enjoyed two impressive victories at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes.

Ahead of today’s race, Ed Rosen, general manager of Repole Stable, told the Press Association: “The time off since the Travers has done him well and we’re all very pleased with how he is heading into the race.

“To use a cliche, you want to keep them happy and healthy once they have hit top form and Todd seems to be very happy with Fierceness since his most recent workouts.

“It’s very exciting and it’s been a build-up over time and now we are getting closer, you begin to get a little bit more nervous. When you compete in the Classic here, you need to be at your very best to win.”