Seven years after his sire Gun Runner ran away with the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, Sierra Leone replicated the feat over the same track Saturday, taking the $6.44 million prize decisively over three-year-old rivals Fierceness and Forever Young.
The Classic culminated what had been a largely frustrating season for Sierra Leone. After winning the Risen Star (G2) and Blue Grass (G1), the deep-closing colt just missed winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) by a nose while controversially costing Japan’s Forever Young a win in the same race after exchanging repeated bumps with that foe through the stretch.
The summer proved equally as fruitless. Favored in three consecutive graded stakes, all at Saratoga, Sierra Leone fell short in all of them. Third to Dornoch in the Belmont (G1), he next ran second in the Jim Dandy (G2) and then third in the Travers (G1).
“In hindsight, Saratoga was probably not his favorite track,” trainer Chad Brown said.
Fierceness won both the Jim Dandy and Travers to retake the lead in the race for champion three-year-old colt honors and started as the 2.80-1 Classic favorite, while Sierra Leone started as the 6-1 fourth choice.
Benefiting a horse with Sierra Leone’s style, the Classic pace was hot. Japanese invader Derma Sotogate hung up an opening quarter in :22.43, a half-mile in :44.96, and six furlongs in 1:09.44 over the fast track. Racing in closest attendance down the backside was Fierceness, who wound up running perhaps the most remarkable of races.
Sierra Leone raced near the back of the pack alongside European star City of Troy, the second choice who broke a bit slow and never appeared to handle the dirt in his first try on the surface. Sierra Leone separated himself from his fellow Coolmore-owned rival, though, making a big middle-race move into contention.
Sierra Leone carried that momentum into the stretch, collared Fierceness approaching the eighth pole, and drew off to a 1 1/2-length score under Flavien Prat.
“Obviously the pace was good, and we found ourselves in a good spot,” Prat said. “I was able to stay outside, and the whole way around, it felt like I was gaining ground on the leaders. Actually I was a bit worried that I got there (to the front) too soon, but once I got the lead, I asked him to make his move and that was it.”
Sierra Leone finished up 1 1/4 miles in a solid 2:00.78 and returned $15.80 to win. Fierceness turned in a terrific effort, given the fact he raced so close to the swift pace. He finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of Forever Young.
“I tried to get keep him off the bridle a little, but when the two horses came in outside, he grabbed onto the bridle, and I knew then I was in trouble,” said John Velazquez, the rider of Fierceness.
Newgate ran best of the older males, a half-length behind Forever Young. The order of finish was rounded out by Senor Buscador, Tapit Trice, Pyrenees, City of Troy, Highland Falls, Ushba Tesoro, Mixto, Arthur’s Ride, Derma Sotogate, and Next.
City of Troy, who had won all but one of his previous races in England and Ireland, now retires after becoming the latest Aidan O’Brien trainee to fall short in the Classic.
“He lost it at the start, and obviously I didn’t have him prepared to come out quick enough. We thought we did, but we didn’t,” O’Brien lamented. “He missed it and left Ryan (Moore) with no chance really; the race was over at the start. He’s been an incredible horse, and it’s so sporting of the lads to let us have a go at this race.”
Coolmore, however, still won the race and likely also has America’s champion three-year-old as well.
“I am so proud and happy for the horse,” Brown said. “He’s come up short a few times and had some excuses. He’s been so consistent and is such an honest horse. One of the best I’ve ever had.”
Bred in Kentucky by Debby Oxley and sold for $2.3 million at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, Sierra Leone has now bankrolled more than $6 million from a record of 9-4-3-2. He was produced by Grade 1 winner Heavenly Love, a daughter of Malibu Moon.
Sierra Leone and Forever Young share a second dam, the Grade 1-placed stakes winner Darling My Darling.
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