The wait is over: Sierra Leone returns to action this Saturday at Fair Grounds
- Turf Diario
- Mar 22
- 2 min read
The 2024 U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old Colt is a strong contender to win the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2)
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Special for Turf Diario) – It wasn’t meant to be in the Saudi Cup (G1), but the wait is over for the spectacular Sierra Leone, who returns to action this Saturday in the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2). The 2024 U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old Colt is set to race in the 1800-meter dirt event at Fair Grounds, offering a $500,000 purse as part of a fantastic card highlighted by the Louisiana Derby (G2).
One of the best dirt horses in the world, Sierra Leone bypassed the Dubai World Cup (G1), as trainer Chad Brown didn’t want to bring him back for a 2000-meter race. This made the New Orleans Classic an ideal starting point for his grand plan, which has its sights set on defending his title in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)—a race he won in 2024, in what was meant to be his last race. Until now…
After a restful stint at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Sierra Leone is ready to add another prestigious victory to his impeccable record, one in which he has never out of the board. Returning to the track where he won the Risen Star Stakes (G2), the son of the legendary Gun Runner is in perfect condition. Brown made this clear in a statement to the Daily Racing Form: “He’s ready to race now. I don’t want to keep training him. His recent workouts have been very good. When he first came back, he was a little lazy, but the last three drills have been very strong, clearly with the reins up, accelerating like he did last year. I’m very comfortable running him now.”
With post position 7, carrying 122 pounds and once again ridden by Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone is the heavy 7/5 morning-line favorite, and he will face 9 rivals, including his paternal half-brother Hall of Fame—trained by Steven Asmussen and ridden by José Ortiz.
The chestnut colt enters the race in superb form, having won 3 consecutive races, including his recent victory in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3), a prep race for the New Orleans Classic.
Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) has run 20 times, with 14 victories, most recently in two listed events. A local pride of Fair Grounds, as he was bred in Louisiana, Touchuponastar finished 2 lengths behind Red Route One (Gun Runner) in this same race last year and is looking for revenge, though the competition is much tougher this time.
Comments