Sierra Leone finally ran straight and true in the biggest race of the year and delivered a stirring victory in the $7 million Breeders‘ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Saturday.
The hard-luck 3-year-old colt finally broke through to beat the best in the world, rolling to the lead on the turn for home, holding off a challenge from favorite Fierceness, and winning by 1 ½ lengths.
Chad Brown and Flavien Prat Guide Sierra Leone to a Long-Awaited Victory
For Sierra Leone, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, it was redemption after so many close calls, from a nose defeat to Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in May to a third in the Travers Stakes (G1) behind Fierceness and Thorpedo Anna in August.
Sent off at 6-1, the $2.8 million son of Gun Runner, Sierra Leone returned $15.80 on a $2 win bet. He covered the 1 ¼ miles in 2:00.78 over a fast track on a clear, sunny afternoon where the “Turf Meets the Surf.”
International Showdown: Classic Contenders City of Troy and Forever Young Fall Short
The buildup to the Classic centered on a truly international field with Euro star City of Troy the morning-line favorite and Japan poised to claim a first Classic with Forever Young. Both 3-year-olds were 6-for-7 coming into the race, but neither rose to the challenge.
“I’m so proud of him, so happy for the horse,’’ Brown said after winning his first Classic and 19th BC race. “To lose the Kentucky Derby by a nose, for a trainer, horse connections, jockey, everyone involved, it’s about as heartbreaking of a loss as you can have in this game of horse racing.”
“For him to be on the Derby trail since January, in the winner’s circle today against some of the top horses in the world, nearly all the credit goes to the horse. He’s just a remarkable horse in soundness and mind and raw talent.”
Forever Young (4-1), third in the Derby in a three-horse photo, finished third again in his second trip to America, followed by Newgate, Senor Buscador, Tapit Trice, Pyrenees, second choice City of Troy, Highland Falls, Ushba Tesoro, Mixto, Arthur’s Ride, Derma Sotogake, and Next.
Thorpedo Anna’s BC Distaff Victory Solidifies Horse of the Year Case
The result likely puts 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna in the favorite’s role for Horse of the Year after her impressive victory in the $2 BC Distaff a few races earlier. Thorpedo Anna, winner of the Kentucky Oaks (G1), has five Grade 1 wins on her resume.
Brown believes Sierra Leone didn’t get comfortable at Saratoga.
“In hindsight, Saratoga might not have been his favorite track. He took to this track, got the pace he needed, and it was his day today,’’ Brown said.
Added co-owner Peter Brant: “Chad always loved this horse. He always had faith in him. He always knew that maybe the next one would be the big one that he would win because he was in the game all the time, he was running against the best, and he was beating them, then they were beating him.”
Sierra Leone improved his resume to 9-4-3-2 and boosted his earnings to just over $6 million after collecting the Classic winner’s share of $3,640,00.