Sierra Leone Towers Again, Takes the Whitney Stakes in Style

The 2024 Champion 3-Year-Old put on a show at Saratoga, turning back Highland Falls to earn yet another “Win and You’re In” berth to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic

Sierra Leone and His Relentless Rally Too Much to Handle in the Whitney / ADAM COGLIANESE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- Owners Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith finally got to celebrate the magic of Sierra Leone at Saratoga, as the 2024 Champion 3-Year-Old broke through after three previous winless attempts at the Spa. On Saturday, in a masterful last-to-first charge, the son of Gun Runner captured the prestigious G1 Whitney Stakes (1800m, $1 million purse), securing a coveted “Win and You’re In” spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar this fall.

Amid a stellar 13-race card featuring five graded stakes and $3.2 million in total purses, the Whitney delivered a thrilling battle. Sierra Leone edged out Highland Falls (Curlin) by a length after sweeping past favorite Fierceness(City of Lights) in the final 300 meters. The 2024 3-year-old champ, who had bested Fierceness in last year’s Classic, reasserted his dominance in this titanic clash, delivering jockey Flavien Prat his fourth graded stakes win of the day and trainer Chad Brown his third, later adding a fourth win to cap off a memorable Saratoga afternoon.

“Sierra Leone has always competed against the best at Saratoga,” reflected Brown. “He ran in the Travers, the Belmont... Looking at his numbers, I never thought he disliked the track. He just hadn’t won here before. Some of his best figures as a 3-year-old were recorded right here. What you saw at the Breeders’ Cup Classic and today is a complete, mature, finely tuned elite horse.” Emotionally, Brown added, “Winning the Whitney finally, with my parents, brother, and daughters here, is a lifetime memory. This is a big challenge—you have to have the right horse.”

The race began poorly for Sierra Leone, who broke last and found himself boxed in early, while Contrary Thinking(Into Mischief), a stablemate of Brant, led as a 70-1 longshot ahead of Mama’s Gold (Bolt D’Oro). Behind, Fiercenesssettled comfortably inside with John Velázquez, closely followed by Highland Falls and defending champion White Abarrio (Race Day).

After hitting the 800-meter mark in 47.7 seconds, Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) surged inside to take the lead, with Fierceness stalking. But the biggest threat was the charging Sierra Leone, who found clear running room on the outside. Prat urged him forward, and the son of Gun Runner exploded down the stretch, passing Fierceness and holding off Highland Falls, who never gave up the fight.

The final time was 1:48.92 on a fast track, with the winner paying $5.90 to win as the second betting choice.

“I was happy with where he was, even though he was last. He was comfortable. Coming into the turn, I wasn’t sure if he had much left, but when I asked him, he rounded the turn beautifully and answered with everything he had down the stretch. I think he’s improved a lot since last year,” said Prat.

Disarm (Gun Runner) rallied from the back to finish third, followed by White Abarrio and a disappointing Fierceness. Others finishing out the order were Post Time (Frosted), Skippylongstocking, Mama’s Gold, and Contrary Thinking. Brant’s other runner, Mindframe (Constitution), was scratched and is being aimed for the August 31 G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, also at Saratoga.

Trainer Brad Cox expressed satisfaction with Highland Falls: “This was his second race back after a break, and I think he’ll keep improving. He won the Gold Cup here last year, so we’ll likely target that race again.”

Will Sierra Leone return to the Gold Cup before heading to Del Mar? Brown teased, “He could. He hasn’t run much this year, so I don’t mind running him once more before the Breeders’. The important thing is that he came out of this effort well. If he’s healthy, I’d like to run him one more time.”

Bred in Kentucky by Debby Oxley, Sierra Leone sold for $2.3 million as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. He was second in the G2 Remsen at 2 behind Dornoch (Good Magic) and never finished off the board in seven 3-year-old starts, capturing the G1 Blue Grass and the Classic, placing second in the Derby (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2), and third in both the Belmont and Travers Stakes (G1).

Now, following this triumphant return, all eyes turn to Del Mar and a second shot at Breeders’ Cup Classic glory. “He’s a very special horse,” said MV Magnier of Coolmore. “What he did last year was incredible. And today confirmed that. We’re blessed to have him. Now, we dream of the Breeders’ Cup once again.”