Chad Brown: “Sierra Leone is the Best Horse I’ve Ever Trained”

The trainer was effusive in his praise for the champion following his impressive victory in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga

Sierra Leone Winning the Whitney Stakes / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

There are victories that go beyond the value of a million-dollar purse, that even outweigh a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). There are wins that strike a deep chord, connecting the professional with the emotional. And that was exactly what Sierra Leone’s triumph in the traditional Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga meant for Chad Brown on Saturday.

The trainer from Mechanicville, just a few miles from the most iconic track of the American summer, removed a personal and professional thorn by capturing for the first time the trophy of one of the great jewels of the classic calendar. And he did it with the champion who has become his emblem: Sierra Leone, the Gun Runner son who shone brightest when the challenge was highest.

“I couldn’t be happier for the horse. He’s really starting to show his maturity and special talent,” Brown said after the victory. “He’s always been consistent, always responds, but I’m really proud that he was able to win such a prestigious race.”

That prestige is no small thing. The Whitney is part of Saratoga’s very DNA, as the trainer recalled: “For me personally, having grown up around here, the Whitney has always been one of those races that really make Saratoga what it is. When you think of Saratoga, you think of the Whitney and the Travers. What an honor to win this race.”

Brown, who already has five Eclipse Awards and over 170 Grade 1 wins, allowed himself an emotional pause to recall his beginnings: “For a while I trained for Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, and they were always very kind to me. I thought about them yesterday, and how warm their welcome would have been if they were here to hand me that trophy. My brother, my nephew, my parents, my two daughters were all here... a perfect day in every way. Those are rare memories, and I’m lucky to be living it.”

The Whitney unfolded as a classic Sierra Leone race. Last in a field of nine, letting the speedsters Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief) and Mama’s Gold (Bolt d’Oro) set fractions of 23.82 and 47.7 seconds, the champion stayed cool, waiting for the right moment to launch his attack. After navigating much of the final turn looking for room between rivals, Flavien Prat angled him out to seventh place, and in the stretch his power did the rest.

He covered the 1800 meters in 1:48.92 to claim his third G1 win. His Beyer Speed Figure was 109, an elite number confirming what by now seems indisputable.

“Still, I admit there was a moment I was worried,” Brown confessed. “Between the 800 and 600 meters I thought he still had a lot to do. This track sometimes favors the front runners, and I knew it would be hard to make up that much ground in a race of this level. But when he hit the 400-meter mark and started advancing under Flavien, and found space... that’s when I really started feeling much better.”

The win also served as an answer to those who believed Sierra Leone wasn’t comfortable at Saratoga, where he had previously finished second in the Jim Dandy (G2) and third in the Travers (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1) in its relocated edition.

“I always believed in the horse,” his trainer emphasized. “I’m so happy he was able to silence those who doubted or criticized his flaws. Early in his career he lost some races for not running straight, and to see that now he’s a professional, polished horse... I’m happy for him. He deserves it. That’s what he is.”

Looking ahead, Brown did not rule out one more prep before the Breeders’ Cup Classic: the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on August 31, back at Saratoga.

“That’s still on the radar. I know he had a tough race, but he’s only run three times this year, and one thing I’m not going to do is be afraid to run him. I’m not trying to protect anything, I’m not afraid to lose with him. My goal is to repeat in the Classic, and I have to do what’s best for that. And I think the best is one more race.”

And when asked about Sierra Leone’s place among the stars who have passed through his barn, Chad Brown didn’t hesitate. “I’ve trained many great horses, and for me, I can say without a doubt he’s the best I’ve ever had in my hands. I’ve had champions on both surfaces, but he’s in another league.”

Big words for a special horse. One who has already conquered the Classic, the Blue Grass, and now the Whitney. And who, by all accounts, is just beginning to write his legacy.