The Treasure of Sierra Leone
Let’s turn to the Breeders’ Cup Classic this week and take an in-depth look at last year’s winner Sierra Leone, who despite his successes, 3-Year-Old championship, and his consistency and resilience, still appears to be under-appreciated. Perhaps it is due in part to his elite connections and enormous price tag. But there is a lot more to this horse than many might think. ~ Steve Haskin
The Treasure of Sierra Leone
By Steve Haskin
Coolmore…Peter Brant…Chad Brown…Flavien Prat…Gun Runner…$2.3 million yearling purchase. Not even Disney could make a Cinderella story out of this cast and script. But heroes come in many forms, and sometimes one comes along that you take for granted and fail to see the feel-good story hidden between the lines.
With Sierra Leone, even with his elite connections and lofty sales price, he has been anything but entitled, having to scrape and claw for everything he has earned on the racetrack. And in fact, he has often been his own worst enemy, with certain flaws and immaturity issues costing him several big wins. And, unlike some of his main rivals, he has never had what you would call a perfect trip.
Just ask the chart callers of his races, who have used trouble lines such as, bumped (several times), bumped start, drifted in, lugged in, stumbled start, broke through gate, altered course, broke slow, 7-wide (several times) and 8-wide. It is safe to say because of his antics, his awkward action, and immaturity he gave away the Kentucky Derby and Remsen Stakes, in which he was beaten a nose each time after racing erratically in the stretch. In the Belmont, he was bumped hard by Mindframe at the start, was shoved out seven-wide at the top of the stretch, and then drifted in, bumping with Antiquarian after turning for home. And who knows what he would have done in The Jockey Club Cup if he didn’t have to swerve sharply and jump over a fallen rider (Irad Ortiz on Mindframe). He still rallied from almost 20 lengths back to be beaten 1 1/2 lengths.
Despite all this, in his 13 career starts, all at a mile or longer, he has never finished out of the money and has been first or second in 11 of the 13 races. In his five victories he has defeated horses who won the Belmont Stakes, Travers, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup, Epsom Derby, Haskell, Pegasus World Cup, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Santa Anita Handicap, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Woodward, Juddmonte International, Eclipse Stakes, Saudi Derby, and two winners each of the Whitney, Pacific Classic, Saudi Cup, Florida Derby, and UAE Derby.
And remember, this is a horse who, with his running style, is pace dependant. But when confronted with the smaller Del Mar oval and its short 919-foot stretch in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, he was able to use his explosive turn of foot to rally from 10th, 13 lengths back, to stick his head in front at the top of the stretch and then draw clear of Fierceness. And he did that by running his fourth quarter in a blistering :23 1/5, otherwise Fierceness would have been home free and near-impossible to catch, as he was at the same distance and same track this year when easily winning the Pacific Classic over the powerful late-closer Journalism.
All minority partner Brook Smith of Rocket Ship Racing could say after the Classic is, “Am I dreaming? My voice is gone. You couldn’t storybook this any better.” He told Louisa Barton for Equus Television Network, “What a beautiful, wonderful, amazing horse. He’s like our kid and this was like watching him grow from an adolescent to a young man.”
And if you want to put a feel-good touch to the Sierra Leone story, Smith has been donating his winnings to the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs to assist the families of backstretch workers. Smith’s wife works in the after school program, helping the kids with their homework and teaching them English. And Smith has helped launch a new program called Purses For a Purpose, where owners can give a percentage of their purse money to improve backstretch conditions. They hope to branch out to Saratoga and other tracks around the country.
So if you find it difficult to root for Coolmore and trainer Chad Brown and that $2.3 price tag, how about focusing only on the horse, who is blue-collared in so many ways, and some of the behind-the-scenes stories. It is hard to deny the fact that Coolmore was a deserving winner of the Classic, considering their heartbreaking defeats in the race, first by Giant’s Causeway, who was beaten a neck by Tiznow in 2000, and then Declaration of War, who was beaten two noses in the 2013 Classic. They also saw arguably their greatest horse ever, Galileo, finish sixth in 2001, and were devastated when their popular warrior George Washington suffered a fatal injury in the slop at Monmouth in 2007. Add to that, Sierra Leone’s agonizing nose defeat in the Kentucky Derby. Coolmore finally was able to break through last year and win a major event on dirt, and they did it with one of their U.S.-trained horses.
Thanks to Brown’s patient handling, Sierra Leone has grown from a big baby into a more mature and professional racehorse.
“He was always the golden child,” said Dave Scanlon, who broke him and gave him his early training. “But he was a big leggy, immature horse, who has now been in a lot of battles and has matured and grown into that big frame and become quite a presence.”
And in most of his races you have to admit he is a fun horse to watch run, circling his field, sometimes 6, 7, and 8-wide, carrying his head and neck low and dropping his shoulder, while bounding along with those long strides.
Sierra Leone wins the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Will history repeat in 2025?
We discussed a couple of his nose defeats. But in three others — the Travers, Stephen Foster, and New Orleans Classic — he was 4, 4 1/4, and 4 1/2 lengths off the lead after a half mile, and that simply is not how he wants to run. He needs to take back and settle into that big stride, gather himself, and then use his powerful turn of foot to get within several lengths of the lead turning for home. That puts him in position to fan wide to stay clear of traffic and then steamroll past his opponents down the stretch.
Even when he doesn’t win, in six of his eight defeats he was beaten 1 1/2 lengths or less. In another, he was beaten 1 3/4 lengths, and in his worst defeat in the New Orleans Classic, he was beaten 4 1/2 lengths coming off a layoff of almost five months, and as Scanlon observed, “He was really on his toes and anxious before the race, and that’s not him.”
Looking at his career from his majority owner’s point of view, Coolmore’s Robyn Murray said, “Sierra Leone is such an impressive horse in every way. He’s just so tough, consistent and classy. From day one Chad has always held him in high regard, he’s never missed a beat, but has come a long way mentally since those early races at 2 and 3. There were some tough beats along the way while he was still figuring things out, but all credit to Chad and his team for the work they have done with him. The ability has always been there but he’s so professional and polished now.
“As a 3-year-old he danced every dance, never ducked a fight, and to be rewarded at the end of it winning the Classic and earning Champion 3-Year-Old honors was a huge thrill for everyone connected with him. To have run 13 times and never finished out of the money is an impressive feat, especially considering the majority of his runs have been in Grade 1’s and Championship races facing the toughest horses in the country. He always shows up and we’re really looking forward to what looks like one of the best renewals of the Breeders Cup Classic in years”
For Brown, the Classic will be bittersweet. “The bitter part is that I’ll be losing the best horse I’ve ever trained,” he said.. “But the sweet part is knowing that he has had a full career and has been so consistent, and that he is going to one of the greatest breeding farms in the world.
If there is one race Brown wishes he could have back it was the gut-wrenching nose defeat in the Kentucky Derby when Sierra Leone was unable to keep a straight course and engaged in a shoving match with Forever Young the length of the stretch. “I’ve never fully gotten over his Derby knowing he was the best horse and came so close,” he said.
Despite a troubled stretch run, Sierra Leone finishes second by a nose in the 2024 Kentucky Derby
But in the long run he will never forget what this horse has meant to him and his career. Although Brown has won a number of major dirt races, including the Preakness twice, it has been Sierra Leone who has helped the most in wiping away the title of “grass trainer” that has followed him around his entire career. And for that he will always be greatful to Coolmore for giving him such a prized possession, for whom they paid an enormous amount of money at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale.
“To be entrusted with a sale-topping horse owned in part by one of the strongest global powers is special, but to be entrusted with a horse like this and to play a part in his development has meant a lot to me,” Brown said. “I’m very proud of the job my team and I have done and how well we’ve met the challenge, especially with the pressure of his early days when he wouldn’t run straight. That’s why seeing him named Champion 3-Year-Old last year was the highlight of my career.”
That highlight likely will be temporary if Sierra Leone should repeat in the Classic against one of the strongest fields ever assembled; a field that as of now has 10 or 11 Grade 1 winners pointing for it.
In sports and in life, it is hard to reach the top, but it is even harder to stay there, and this year’s Classic should test Sierra Leone’s fortitude and grit, having to face his brilliant rivals from last year once again, as well as an extremely talented group of 3-year-olds. So, does he have what it takes to repeat?
David Scanlon, remembers the change the colt underwent as he matured throughout his 3-year-old campaign and “began to get that ‘eye of the tiger.'”
That expression was made famous by being the lead song with the same title from the film Rocky III. From what we’ve seen so far this year, Sierra Leone still has that eye of the tiger and looks ready to do battle once again in America’s richest race, just as Tiznow was ready when had to gut it out to become the first horse to win the Classic twice. As the lyrics to the song go:
“It’s the eye of the tiger; it’s the thrill of the fight…Risin’ up to meet the challenge of our rival…Had the guts, got the glory…Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop.”
Yes, that may sound a bit dramatic, but wait until they get in the gate for the Classic and see if you don’t start getting butterflies in your stomach and your heart doesn’t start pounding a bit harder. Imagine what it will be like for Chad Brown, Coolmore, and the partners as they envision the history that could be made in the next two minutes at Del Mar when Horse of the Year will be crowned.
*****
Those were my words leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and even though Sierra Leone’s quest for a history-equaling second consecutive Classic victory fell a mere half-length short I couldn’t conclude this column without stressing how much my admiration for this colt has grown. Even in defeat he added more glory to an already glorious career. Not to compare him in any way to Tiznow, the only horse to win two Classics and in consecutive years, but Tiznow was victorious at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, both extremely fair tracks with big turns and long stretches. Sierra Leone managed to finish first and second in the Classic at Del Mar, a tight, speed-favoring track with a very short stretch, which surely did not favor the long-striding colt’s style of running.
In this year’s Classic, Sierra Leone ran his first quarter in :24 3/5, while eight lengths off the lead. Then the pace quickened. Despite running his second quarter in an eye-catching :22 4/5, he still was eight lengths back. Flavien Prat knew, with Forever Young, Fierceness, Journalism and Mindframe all in perfect position right behind Sierra Leone’s pace-setting stablemate Contrary Thinking over such a speed-biased track, he had to start closing the gap down the backstretch. He was well aware Contrary Thinking was not going to be in front much longer, and if one of those top-class horses broke free he would be near-impossible to catch. Although Sierra Leone preferred to wait a bit longer before unleashing his big move around the far turn, Prat asked him to pick it up, as he did in last year’s Classic, and Sierra Leone put in a third quarter in a rapid :23 2/5, extremely fast in a 1 1/4-mile race.
As they turned for home, Sierra Leone, as he often did, fanned five-wide, but in the worst case scenario, it was Forever Young who did indeed break free from the other pace horses, opening a two-length lead in the upper stretch, and this powerful stretch runner was not about to stop. Sierra Leone, after getting floated a bit wider by a drifting Journalism, lowered that shoulder and came barreling down the stretch as he always does. He was relentless, cutting into Forever Young’s lead, but despite flying home his last quarter in a brilliant :24 flat, he fell just short, beaten by one of the classiest horses in the world.
This was another epic battle between combative cousins, as Sierra Leone’s dam and Forever Young’s dam are half-sisters. In their three meetings they have finished first and second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, first and third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and second and third, noses apart and a nose behind the winner, in the Kentucky Derby, a race in which many felt they would have finished first and second had they not engaged a way-too-close family reunion after meeting in the upper stretch. They gave new meaning to the term rubbing elbows, shoving, leaning on, and bumping each other every step down that long Churchill Downs stretch. The consensus opinion was that if Sierra Leone, who was still a big baby and immature with a penchant for lugging in, had kept a straight course he would have won the Derby. Although Forever Young was right there at the finish, the feeling by those close to the horse in Japan was that it was Sierra Leone who actually made him aggressive and stirred his competitive juiices.
So we come to the end of Sierra Leone’s career, and no matter what your opinion is of him, no one can deny he made every race a fun adventure, and no horse was more dependable. He likely cost himself a victory in The Jockey Club Gold Cup when he showed his athleticism for such a big horse by swerving sharply to avoid stepping on the fallen rider Irad Ortiz, likely saving him from serious injury.
With Sierra Leone, once you loaded the chamber he fired on all cylinders every time, whether it was on a fast and muddy track at Aqueduct, a sloppy track at Fair Grounds, or fast tracks at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Saratoga and Del Mar. From his career debut in November of 2023 to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November of 2024, his Beyer speed figure got faster every race he ran. He never once regressed, going from a 71 to a career best 112. Even this year, following his first ever layoff, his Beyer figures again climbed from a 103 to a career-equaling 112 in the Classic, the same figure he got in his Classic victory the previous year. And even in defeat this year he received a faster Ragozin Sheets number than the victorious Forever Young.
When I think of Sierra Leone, I won’t think of an-all time great or a breaker of track records. But I will think of something more important, and that are the words from a poem written by an unknown author and simply called “The Champion.”
“The average runner sprints until the breath in him is gone, but the champion has the iron will that makes him carry on.
For rest, the average runner begs when limp his muscles grow, but the champion runs on leaden legs, his spirit makes him go.
The average man’s complacent when he does his best to score, but the champion does his best and then he does a little more.”
Thanks for the memories, Sierra Leone.
Photos courtesy of Coglianese Photo / NYRA, Breeders’ Cup Ltd and Courier Journal.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
my sister, Sharon, would ask me each spring, ” who are you gonna bet in the Derby ?” Trying to be funny in 2024, I said, ” I’m betting on you!” Then, pretending to be a drunk slurring my words I said ” I’m betting on Sherrrri Lon ( my way of pretending I was intoxicated, trying to pronounce the name Sharon ) After a few slurs it became Sierra Leone. 2023 to 2025, What a ride ! What a Horse ! What a Derby, 2024. I thought he won A true closer, which I’ve always favored. His battles with Forever Young, who has gone on to be the biggest money winner ever, $31 million plus. And still racing – will be in this year’s Classic. I’m going with Golden Tempo ( a closer ) My sister, Sharon, passed away in the spring of 2025.
Wow, that made me emotional. Thank you so much.
What a summary, piece on a one of a kind horse. Gratitude Steve!
Great article with a Rocky reference from a Philly guy…. owner of A Sound of Horses. Stay healthy and safe, hope the eye is good as new and no dry eye.
If Kopion goes in the Breeders Cup Sprint, she will have to deal with a very serious Bentornato who seems bigger and better than last year. Kopion seems better suited to the 7-furlongs of the BC F&M Sprint.
Richard Mandella must like the chances of Tamara in the BC F&M Sprint. Going for a “Mandella Sprint Double”. Tamara trying to redeem herself after disappointing 2 years ago at Santa Anita in the BC Juvenile Fillies. She was the 4-5 favorite that day. There looks to be plenty of serious speed in the BC F&M Sprint as well.
What you failed to mention is Tamara has been injured.
Have not seen any announcements on her.
Has she been withdrawn from BC?
Sorry Lynda, means she’s had problems in past.
That was a fun read. Thanks Steve, this will be a fantastic Breeder’s Cup Classic. Hoping for a stretch duel between Sierra and Sovereignty. Fortunately I will be there again this. year. Last year was so much fun, My better half, and my brother and I made a promise we would return. We leave tomorrow morning for a week of San Diego hospitality that cannot be rivaled. Giddy Up!
Shirreffs pointed out—in the Jim Sandy Baeza had the rail post, never switched off, was in the bridle throughout—held sway nicely, this is the horse to include with Sovereignty….
Matthew, agreed. Some always count him out.
Works of note: Jose worked Journalism 1:01 2/5 at 6:30 this AM, Del Mar….Mandella blew out Kopion, in 33 1/5 today, she will be favored to beat the boys in The Sprint….Shirreffs worked Baeza 1:02 2/5 from the 6 path at SA yesterday, and he finished full of run, I think he is live!..
Jon Hardoon of the Ragozin Sheets just said Fierceness and Journalism ran career best Sheets numbers, in The Pacific Classic….Baeza ran his career best, in the Oenn Derby—and Sovereignty has the best Sheets Pattern of any horse, ever—he has improved with every start..
Great information, Matthew Wl. Maybe Sovereignty will blow us all away with his performance on Saturday.
Journalism does everything CALMLY…Works calmly…eats a carrot calmly….gets bathed calmly….he is a pro….
Am I just old, or did others get the reference to “The Treasure of Sierra Madre”? BTW, I can highly recommend “The House of Dynamite”.
Update on Tho Anna’s first date.
Kenny said this morning that it will be Curlin or Gun Runner, leaning towards Curlin.
Wow, what an exciting date that will be. Thanks for that Lynda. She is such a beauty, I hope her kids are as successful as she was.
Gun Runner is a much better choice, but Curlin is getting old. Pedigree combo with GR duplicates some of his best successes. A filly with GR is a win in lots of ways.
Watched video Sovereignty galloping at Del Mar this morning.
I know everyone is probably sick of me talking about him.
Of all the horses I have followed Sovereignty comes the closest to my beloved Secretariat in attitude, looks, personna, stride, presence…everything!
Lynda no one could be sick of your comments your insight is really appreciated
Thank you Nick
Too true Nick.
Nysos looked pretty good again this morning. Enough to make me overlook the negatives? I’m not sure. A week to figure it out.
He won’t have the six workouts that you like to see. But he has had some good ones.
I figure that if he gets beat, it will be by a closer. A horse like White Abarrio or maybe even Chancer McPatrick. I know. “Chancer” has been disappointing in Graded races at low odds this year. But he will be flying under the radar next Saturday. And there looks to be plenty of speed in this year’s BC Dirt Mile.
Nysos will be heavily favored…Bob was supremely confident, before the Pacific Classic…..I like Full Serrano a lot…..
Just to clarify what might be confusing.
Yes, Knicks Go is leaving Taylor Made and going to Korea.
He is owned by Korea, even when racing, so really no surprise.
Now that I’ve had a minute to recover from the Cox Plate, I see the Grade 3 Street Sense goes off Sunday opening day at Churchill Downs. I like Ganaas, a War Front colt out of a Tapit mare. Ganaas is unbeaten, including a last-out victory at Churchill. Oh, and his second dam is Lahudood, who won the BC Filly and Mare Turf.
Brilliant Cox Plate, absolutely great race…best Australian race I’ve ever seen. Heart thumping finish!!
That sure was! And Via Sistina pulled it off for two in a row! Lord have mercy, that mare is SEVEN. What an impressive feat.
…and four in a row for superstar jockey J-Mac.
I just saw the replay. A thriller!
The stamina of those horses is impressive. They were put to drives a half mile out and were still reaching out at the wire. Not sure if it’s training or breeding, but i don’t often see horses finish like that here.
I had to watch the replay, knew the outcome, and it was still simply thrilling! I don’t think I’ve seen horses all out for such an extended distance like that anywhere else. Waller calls her just plain “Via.” Just goes to show that being a yearling that sold for under $7K can mean something… or nothing at all!
Katy, I just wish I went there now. Sometimes you do stupid things, idk gone out two nights late to celebrate. The coverage on 7plus was wonderful. Did you know they allowed the public to dig up peace’s of the track after the race. The whole racecourse is being renovated.
Todd, it’s mostly stamina from European bloodlines. The Moonee Valley track is extremely tough on runners in the same way Epsom is, if they haven’t the stamina/conformation they will falter. The track twists and twists.
Video of Junior Alvarado asking Sovereignty for a kiss…he has his hands behind his back…and eventually Sovereignty reaches out and kisses him!
Matthew, where did you catch that video? Getting grey at ‘the Valley’ but it shouldn’t rain the clouds are too high up.
The lights are on at ‘the Valley’ as the drama mounts for the Cox Plate.
Davids I don’t know, it just came up….Sovereignty kisses him, and shows his choppers like he is smiling!…
I’ll start searching. Thanks.
Beautiful day, no wind, here for the 6 million Australasian champion title race the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley around 5:40 pm Melbourne time. There are another 8 Group 2 – 3 races plus 2 other listed races on the card. The track is being totally reconstructed after today’s racing.
Next year the Cox Plate will be run at Flemington to further boost that track’s build up to the Melbourne Cup. Randwick has the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and the Group 2 Craven Plate as their last preps for the Melbourne Cup. Another fantastic day of racing here in Australia as per usual for the Spring Carnival of racing.
FanDual’s “Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup 2025” gets 10 out of 10 with their coverage. Joe Talamo is a plus+++ Enjoy the races.
Davids…My first Aussie crush was on the New Zealand miler..the filly Sunline, who did not begin her racing career till age four, and compiled a terrific record of 48 starts…with 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds—and she won the 10 furlong Cox Plate by 8 lengths….
Matthew, J-Mac has won 2 already. Not sure if you have seen it but the 1986 Cox Plate was spine chilling the build up was phenomenal with two New Zealand greats Our Waverley Star and Bonecrusher having great followings.
The race is on Youtube. As you say, Sunline was a wonder mare.
Davids I will look it up, along with Via Sistina’s win, I missed it last night…
Wow! I saw The Cox Plate….Via did not get a good trip, she made a wide and sustained run, and when horses usually tire, in mid stretch, she persevered!
Davids, I’m prepared — downloaded all the Aussie PPs and am recording the overnight feeds, which should cover all the big races.
Enjoy the races, Ms Blacktype. I wish the Breeders’ Cup had all the cameras that Australian racing have in their arsenal the coverage here is just outstanding compared to any other country.
Spitting rain at ‘the Valley’ 90 minutes before the Cox Plate…
…more rain with an hour until the Cox Plate, no matter all runners are good on softer going.
I wonder if Fred C Dobbs would put his treasure on Sierra Leone’s nose….
Ay, mi madre! 🤣 You’re thinking of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Sierra Leone is an African country, and there’s no evidence of Fred C having been there.
One of the best films ever made.
SoCal temp will be rising next week, a high pressure front, hot days cool nights—Del Mar will likely be 8-10 degrees cooler, probably around 83…..
Locked has an “untimely” illness, will miss the BCC and has been retired.
Wow!
Read that and bummer news for me because he was one I was going to be looking at closely. Wish they would have kept him around another year.
On another note I really feel bad for Rispoli and losing the mount on Journalism. Not sure what the owners thought did not like in his last ride? Losing to Fierceness is no shame.
Also…. Breakfast at the Breeders Cup is back on YOUTUBE!!!! YAY
I too feel bad for him.
Agree no shame losing to Fierceness.
Congratulations to Post Time on having his plates pulled after a legit and sneaky good career! Staying in MD, and will stand for $4K. Seems like a pretty decent value for MidA breeders to me.
In other breeding news, bummer about Cogburn’s Australian season being a flop. Seemed like a lot for a first year stallion. I hope they’ll get him sorted out. I like to stay at home and experience the seasons naturally myself, so I can’t blame him.
Breeding news is boring. Ready for the Championships!
That’s good to hear. Post Time was tailing off a bit , mentally or physically, and should be popular with Maryland breeders.
I think the foal crop of 2021 has some real standouts, and I appreciate that the owners kept Sierra Leone going this year. I appreciate him most for (athletically) not killing Irad last out, and finishing as well as he did after that.
Since we must resign ourselves to the fact that we race to breed, I’m curious: how do y’all think he will do at stud? And would a repeat BC win (with rabbit) change your POV?
I think he will do fine at stud. His genes won’t know whether he wins or loses next Saturday. I tend to judge prospective stallions on their best performances rather than their worst because the good efforts are the ones that show what they are capable of. Sierra Leone has proven himself on the track, he has good bloodlines, and I expect he’ll have some good babies. I think we can all be grateful to him for what he did in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and I wish him well at stud. But I am going to be cheering for Fierceness, Mindframe, and Baeza in the Classic.
Katy, SL does have a really good pedigree, however that is not a guarantee he will be a star in the breeding shed. Will not know for 3 years.
He will service top mares at Ashford.
Fee not announced yet, do think that will be dependent on winning the BCC this year.
Not my pick to win the BCC, still supporting Sovereignty, Forever Young, Fiercenessand Baeza being in the money.
Have nothing against SL, just have others as mentioned above I like better.
Katy, just my opinion but if Fierceness shows up with Johnny V on board, rabbit or no rabbit Fierceness will win or finish ahead of Sierra Leone.
Fierceness sure likes Del Mar! I also prefer Forever Young to Sierra Leone, but I am just not as familiar with his preps. I just love that horse, though.
As far as Sierra Leone at stud, I just wonder if the closer “curse” will follow him as far as success. It’s hard for me to think of a consistently successful sire who had a closing style in dirt route races from the last 40 years or so. Maybe he will break through.
Katy, an influential breeder told me decades ago that ‘come from behind horses’ – closers – don’t become influential sires. Over the years, his opinion has proven to be quite correct. Can you think of any. Buckpasser was an excellent broodmare sire but not a sire of sires.
I always feared that ‘opinion’ would fall on Honor Code and it did.
Sovereignty has arrived at Del Mar.
He literally takes my breath away.
One gorgeous, stunning Thoroughbred!
Forever Young practically galloped of the trailer at Del Mar.
Another gorgeous Thoroughbred.
Full Seranno is peaking, for Sadler…Dirt Mile came up strong, again, with Nysos, Mystik Dan and White Abarrio, also Citizen Bull, who loves Del Mar—I like Full Serrano….in The Sprint I like two licals: Lovesick Blues, the Cal bred…and 20-1 Dr Venkman, IF he draws wide….Dr Venkman doesn’t like the inside, and he has been stuck down there all year—look out! He loves Del Mar, and he is a good horse!..
I hope that the Mile is as good as it should be on paper! Hard for me to even choose. As always, just hope all come home clean, sound, and safe! That said, it would be very cool to see Serrano, Whitey, or Dan finish up 2025 in style.
I agree 100% on Dr Venkman. Hope he draws well and there is a good pace.
Representing (AKA: Behold the King) had another 4 furlong work (48:80) and at the end of his workout he looked pretty fluid. I hope he keeps coming along the way he is.
DTS, I’ll be darned if there isn’t a “Behold The King.” Someone liked your name after all! Not This Time x Behold the Queen, in Mark Casse’s barn, and a winner on 10/2.
Really… and he/she is a winner too !!! Thanks for that update
A chestnut colt.
The drf has thoughtfully provided where to watch each Breeders Cup race on TV. (Go to the drf site and click on “Breeders Cup” on the dark blue line near the top.)
Every BC race FRIDAY and SATURDAY will be available on FanDuel.
FRIDAY:
Every BC race is also available on USA, EXCEPT the Juvenile (FanDuel and Peacock only)
SATURDAY:
Every BC race is available on USA EXCEPT for Race 12, the Filly & Mare Sprint.
Every BC race is available on Peacock.
NBC coverage starts with Race 5 (Turf Sprint) and concludes with Race 9 (the Classic).
Since I have FanDuel (and the $300 monthly cable bill to go with it), I will stay parked there.
Thank you!
Thanks Ms B.
I’m happy to hear that USA has most of the races. I don’t get FanDuel or Peacock, and I prefer watching on TV. Thank you for the information.
All of you are welcome!
Watching the video of past Distaff winners, and they included Zenyatta and Life Is Sweet—both are retired, and in a paddock together, with a few other retired mates, Zenyatta stands out as the alpha—reminded me of a story I heard about when they schooled Zenyatta, at Hollywood Park in the paddock, and Rail Trip looked over at her….she turned to view him…and he turned and looked down, because she was the alpha—one big mare, she was…and still is..
I appreciate the depth of this field and am looking forward to the outcome, but i don’t feel the quality approaches that of the 1988, 1998, and probably several other fields. 1988 featured warriors like Alysheba, Seeking the Gold, Forty Niner, Cryptoclearance, and others. 1998 had Skip Away, Silver Charm, Touch Gold, and Awesome Again. This year’s field has won certain races and beaten the winners of certain races, but I’m not sure what that means when they run 5 or 6 times a year. This is the racing we now have, but i don’t put these horses on the level of those listed above, though Sovereignty could get there.
Let’s be honest, Flightline would obliterate any field in the history of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Flightline trumps anything, end of story. Put up the ten best winners of the Breeders’ Cup Classic against Flightline and he wins easily.
Possibly, but we did have runners in the past who could have tested him, such as Skip Away, Cigar, and Ghostzapper, but the fields i mentioned above had both depth and quality. The horses Flightline beat had won a lot of money, but other than the frontrunner whose name escapes me, they were not particularly memorable.
Must be talking about Life is Good !!!
Todd, go to the Wikipedia sites of Timeform and Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. They have lists of the best racehorses by rankings.
Flighline and Frankel equally tower above all the rest in World’s Best Racehorse Rankings while in Timeform. Flightline ranking way above all US runners and most of the European greats.
I never quite understand why some would want to diminish his greatness, the official websites certainly appreciate this wonderful horse’s achievements.
I doubt that…hes not nearly as good as Tiznow, Sierra Leone, Gun Runner, American Phaoroh, Zenyatta, Cigar, Sunday Silence, Curlin and on n on n on….
I think Flightline was pretty special and lean more towards what Davids was saying.
He was special…but several other horses are more special
Really, tell that to Timeform and Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings they don’t agree with your opinion but you can believe whatever you think it’s a free world.
Of course! Six races only!
Downthestretch, the two most respected thoroughbred rating organizations in the world – Timeform and Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings – have Flightline rated far superior to any other US racehorse.
Check out their rankings on Wikipedia.
Correct Dominic.
Davids, sorry, I cannot agree.
Based on time alone several would have won over Flightline.
Others would include Arrogate, Cigar Sunday Silence, Tiznow and Ghostzapper.
Lynda, go to Timeform on Wikipedia, it’s the most respected horse rating organization/service in the world and has been since the inception of rating racehorses.
Here’s their rating of Flightline 143, Arrogate gets 139, Cigar 138, Sunday Silence 137, Tiznow below 135, Ghostzapper 137.
If you think Timeform haven’t a clue just go through their list of how many great European runners they have rated Flightline above.
If you want to go to the official Longines World Best Racehorse Ratings website which started the official ratings in 2003 you will see that Frankel and Flightline are equal at 140.
On these ratings Ghostzapper gets a rating of 130, Curlin 130, Arrogate 134, American Pharoah 134, Knicks Go 129 and Equinox 135.
The two respected world horse racing rating services both have Flightline rated the best US racehorse.
Sure he was something very special, but so few races doesn’t cut it. Cigar ran thirty- three times!!!
And…… don’t forget FL ran a grand total of 6 races!
I thought they went too fast, into that strong backstretch headwind that day…perhaps Arrogate could have caught him….but six races, 5 off of 3mo or more layoffs….and he does THAT, every time….
Linda and Mike,
Don’t go by the time as Flightline was being shutdown way before the finishline on several of his races. Remember the Pacific Classic ,,, He probably would have set a world record for a 1 1/4 mile that day. He did everything with such ease. In his last race he took on a very good horse in Life is Good and just put him into the dust.
You’re aware times doesn’t impress me. FL was in a different area code for sure. However, he ran six times only.
Just a reminder, APharoah12 has wonderful footage of the Breeders’ Cup participants training at Del Mar on YouTube
Just search for “2025 Breeders’ Cup Training” – APharoah on YouTube
Thanks for the tip, Davids!
Steve, nice in-depth look at Sierra Leone. As of this morning Chad Brown is highly considering entering Contrary Thinking as a “rabbit” for his stablemate….SL.
Last year’s BCC early fractions were borderline suicidal, hence the great closing kick and win by SL. Is Chad Brown desperate enough to try this tactic again?
Yes, absolutely desperate, Brown has entered his rabbit Contrary Thinking. I thought the Breeders’ Cup Classic was supposed to be above all this. Isn’t the BCC supposed to be a race that pits the best against the best? What a farce.
Sierra Leone + rabbit, will attempt to take on 9 other opponents.
How many other trainers employed this tactic? Plenty. And I don’t even like Brown.
Who else has used this negative tactic in a Breeders’ Cup Classic beforehand?
Contrary Thinking has won an 1 mile Allowance and a 6f MSW race in his life time does this make him eligible to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic?
What World Championship race does Contrary Thinking qualify for, I’ll tell you, none. A big fat farce
Lol. My point is this happens often. Didn’t mean Breeders Cup.
Yes Mike, I know that and I hate the tactic then whoever endeavors to utilize the negative tactic.
Nevertheless, this the Breeders’ Cup Classic it’s supposed to be the best racehorses against each other as individuals.
In Europe, they have pacemakers/rabbits but they just set a rapid and constant pace out in front by themselves while not interfering with or jeopardizing other horse’s chances in the race.
US rabbits on the other hand, are deliberately in a race to interfere with another opponent’s chance of winning.
Agreed.
I cannot recall a rabbit being employed, in The Classic, but before the advent of The Dirt Mile? I mean…if there weren’t that race…FullSerrano would surely be running in The Classic, perhaps Nysos, too…
,I have no problem with using the “rabbit ” … my problem is careless and reckless riding by the jockey.
Davids I am not aware of a rabbit in other BCC races, someone on here might know.
Waiting for comments on a group I follow about Contrary Thinking.
Im rooting for Journalism——-the tough guy…and Sierra Leone—with his big frame who looks like he’s too big for his equipment! Am betting on Baeza, and am excited by Sovereignty—with his machine-like action!…
Matt WI,
Man you are all over the place and the adrenaline is running high !!! First your all in on Baeze, Now rooting for Journalism, then bring in Sierra Leone , then excited about Sovereignty but cannot leave out Forever Young. But I have a solution for you just bet $2 on every horse in the race and when you watch the race and at the top of the stretch just get out of your seat and start jumping up and down because you know you have a winner !!! If it is a longshot you may recoup your money (and then some)… But seriously practically a case can be made for every horse in this race. I say we wait to see who all enters this race and for the post position draw. Then we may have a better way of figuring what will be the best bet for this race. For me the most part I like them all but in the end only one horse can win the race ,unless we have a deadheat and with this bunch you never know . The strategizing will start to come in between owners , trainers and jockeys. And for the horseplayer you just hope you made the right choice.
Always rooting for Journalism and Sierra Leone, only playing Baeza, wps and exacta box with Sov ..
I can see how anyone could be all over the place on this race. I’ve watched all the Breeders’ Cups and I believe this year’s Classic has the best and deepest field I’ve ever seen in that event. It’s an amazing group of horses. As you pointed out, you could make a case for almost anybody. I’m not betting so I can allow sentiment to influence me at least a little bit. There are three horses here that I love and have for some time. Fierceness has been a favorite of mine ever since his first race. There have been a lot of ups and downs but it’s been fun. A win Saturday would be a wonderful way to close his racing career. I’ve also been very pleased with Mindframe this year and last year, and I think he’s capable of taking this. After his terrible luck in his last race, I’d like to see him make up for it here. I probably would cheer for any horse named Baeza, but I really like this one. I’m expecting a big race from him at some point, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic is one event that his mother’s offspring have not yet won. Maybe this is the time. I can’t cheer against any of these three horses so I guess I just have to cheer for all of them. I realize that Sovereignty and Sierra Leone are probably the logical choices, but in a race with so much talent there’s plenty of room for other selections. Maybe the only thing we can be sure of is that this is going to be one fantastic race. I’m really looking forward to it.
10cdays out, Sovereignty in his plane….Pletcher brings his fearsome foursome of Fierceness, Locked, Antiquarian, Mindframe…Forever Young…Journalism and Baeza….Sierra Leone…..a DEEP field, ALL of the above mentioned horses are in good form! Very deep, but Sovereignty is the marquee horse, Sovereignty and his HUGE KICK! I like Baeza—objectivelt speaking…Sovereignty stands above this group!
Great horse to root for. Always shows up. Love the closers.
My only gripe if you call it a gripe, is the Derby thinking. He was immature or something. He always logged in or came in. He caused his own problems and if he did not do that there is no way of telling which horse would have won the Derby. It is fare to say that he hurt Forever Young’s chances just as much as his own.
I would not be surprised if he wins his swan song.
Nice read Steve.
You would have to think if this horse wins the classic he would be a hall of famer. The fact nobody is talking about that is insane to me…
Quite honestly all I want out of the Classic is for all to make it safely with no fallen jockeys and clean riding. Of course, I would be delirious should Sierra Leone, Journalism, and Sovereignty finish 1-2-3 in that order. I can dream. Actually, I would love to see Journalism finish ahead of Sovereignty just once.
Thanks Steve as always for the excellent look at the Clasdic. The whole series has lost some of the luster for me with Thorpedo Anna retiring and Napoleon Solo not entered in the juvenile. But the Classic field, like the 1957 Derby field, is something else. Should be a humdinger.
Sharon, I liked your comment, but the order of finish should be Journalism, Sierra Leone and Sovereignty! (lol) It’s been great having two very strong 3yo’s this year.
I’ll remember him most for his outrageous fouling of Forever Young in the Kentucky Derby. FY was mugged and robbed.
It’s not as though his antics came at a cost only to himself.
He’s a fine horse, but always tainted by that gawdawful stetch run.
Flying J—Ill always wonder WHAT those stewards weren’t seeilg!—three bumps, along with the jockey’s bracing off of Forever Young’s neck—abd they didn’t even LOOK AT IT! Had Sierra kept a straight path, I believe Sierra would have WON, but he DIDNT! Stewards should have called INQUIRY…then put Forever Young up to 2nd….but I “owe” Sierra—He paid me 6-1, in The Classig—and he helped me cash my win bet on Mystik Dan, in the Derby—by bumping FY three times ….
The no inquirie was a great disgrace to US horse racing.
Instead of gushing about how the horse nearly won despite it’s self inflicted handicap it should be recognized how courageous and gritty Forever Young was in being slammed and bullied by a much larger foe and having his hindquarters knocked out from under him and yet still missing victory by inches .
Japan was done very dirty that day, I am surprised that they have bothered to return to the ugly and inconsistent fray that US racing has too often become.
I do not believe Churchill Downs was doing anything to Japan…my father once told me The Kentucky Derby is a race where stewards leave it alone—they called no inquiry on Maximum Security—his disqualification was a result of a jockey/trainer foul call—but once somebody brought it to attention…they changed the order of finish, I think H/trainer rider/trainer of Forever Young claimed foul—Sierra Leone would have been placed third….
Matthew, a lot of my European friends/relatives couldn’t believe the stewards did ….t …k ..l, excuse the language but that’s what they said, in an obvious case when a runner should have been taken down.
As they say, only in America.
America…and only—are two words that go together, usually for good reason…
Joanne, I’m with you. That’s what I’ll remember about Sierra Leone as well, the fouling of Forever Young with nothing happening from the stewards. The luck of having an idiotic speed duel in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic which enhanced Sierra Leone’s chances exponentially. Chad Brown having to add a rabbit in races to help Sierra Leone win – mind you that tactic has only worked once so far while causing absolute mayhem in another.
“Sierra Leone/Contrary Thinking” might succeed in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic but ‘they’ won’t have the same magic as when Tiznow did it on his back.
The fouling was minimal…it hurt SL just as much
Steve,
The best part of Tuesdays are reading your articles ,you always have such great facts and stories .You never disappoint thanks for the great work.
Go Sierra Leone
Thank you very much Rich.
Hello, Steve and readers. This is a great look at an easy horse to love. Thank you. But I was a bit surprised that Chad Brown called SL “the best horse I’ve ever trained.” In my view, Bricks and Mortar was the superior runner. I guess it’s difficult to compare dirt and turf horses. The BC Classic should be a super race, and I’ll be rooting for Sovereignty. I won’t be disappointed if SL or Journalism wins. And I hope most for safe runs in all the races.
Roberta, I’d rate Jack Christopher Chad Brown’s most talented runner – 5 wins and a third from 6 starts.
Sierra Leone has 5 wins out of 13 starts.
Oh, Davids! Have you forgotten that Bricks and Mortar won 11 of 13 races? Five of the wins were in G1 races, including the Breeders’Cup Turf, and two of the wins were in G2 races. Then there’s the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.
SL is WAAAAAAY better than JC!
He’s always been my choice from the moment he started racing!
I saw him win at Del Mar. it was amazing. And this year might be a repeat performance.
Thanks for your column. He is just everything a racehorse champion can be ❤️🏇🏻
Steve:
An eloquent piece on the horse who is arguably the best of his year. While this year’s Classic field is loaded with potential winners, I’d say you’ve put your finger on the race for me with your recent columns: the most likely outcome is Sierra Leone and Sovereignty running 1-2 (or vice versa). Certainly worth a $10 boxed exacta.
On a related note, do you know when the entries will be out? I thought they were taken yesterday.
Pre-entries will be released at noon Eastern time tomorrow, the 22nd (per the Paulick Report).
Thanks, arlingtonfan!
You’re welcome, Ms Blacktype!
Great article on a great horse. I was real happy he got the pace hr needed in last year’s BC Classic…
Wm Hill just updated their futures:
Sovereignty 8-5
Sierra Leone, Fierceness 5-1
Journalism, Forever Young 9-1
Baeza 10-1
Mindframe 11-1
Still like FY at 9-1
biggy312, I wish I knew what ‘mind frame’ Mindframe is in after the disaster of the rabbit infested Jockey Club Gold Cup a few weeks back.
If Mindframe is in the same mind frame as he was prior to the Jockey Club Gold Cup then those odds are worth taking to task.
Is Chad Brown allowed to enter Contrary Thinking in an attempt to help Sierra Leone get the same chaotic pace as last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic?
Same here, Davids. I’m not one to tell a Hall of Fame trainer his job, but, it puzzles me that Todd did not seek another prep to prepare Mindframe for the BC as I suspect Mindframe didn’t get much, if anything, out of the JC Gold Cup. Guess I’d find it hard being a “hands off” owner. lol
So looking forward to handicapping this outstanding edition of the BC Classic.
Dewey and Davids,
i went back and watched all of Mindframe races ( Churchill Downs Stakes has to be in the running for race of the year ) and he is a very versatile horse. Dewey I too wonder why Todd did not find another race for him after the JGC fiasco as I don’t think he got a lot out of that race and even Pletcher questions the same thing.. I think his only chance in the BCC is coming from mid pack as too close to the front pace he will probably be empty coming into the stretch …. My thinking is the pace should be pretty hot in this race.. My other question is who will ride Locked and Antiquarian as previous jockeys are already taken.?
Downthestretch, Mindframe has the brilliance to win Grade 1 sprints and the capacity to win Grade 1s at 10f. Noting that Mindframe has won a Grade 1 at 9f.
‘If’ Mindframe is in the same condition he was prior to the the Jockey Club Gold Cup that versatility as you mentioned above is going to take a ton of beating especially if Ortiz Jr is able to place him just behind the speed. Del Mar is another question as well, some horses just don’t act to their full potential for some reason on that track. Time will tell.
Dewey, did you notice how far Mindframe distanced himself from Sierra Leone past the post in the Stephen Foster when the horse realized there was a challenge coming late in the race. Obviously, Mindframe has a variety of gears he can rely on to finish the job.
Im not sure you couldn’t get these odds on day of…
biggy:
If Sierra Leone goes off at 5-1, that will be the same odds Tiznow took to his second Classic victory in 2001. I remember that because all the regulars seated around me at the 8th poll had bet him after his amazing mile work prior to the race. A good omen? We’ll see.
I am still team Sovereignty, but he will have a very tough race
Steve,
Nice article on Sierra Leone.. He definitely is a “live” one for the BCC. This year will not be a easy one for him though as this field is shaping up to be one of toughest in years.
We know he likes the track but so do a lot of the other competitors. Hope they all stay healthy and we have a clean race.
On another note ….. How about that “win” by Barnes this past weekend!!! A few weeks ago I stated how much I liked his race in the Gallant Bob Stakes and although he did not win the race he displayed a versatility he hadn’t displayed before. My judgement was questioned and others thought Zedan had another dud on his hands. I think Baffert is finally turning the corner with this horse. Although he didn’t come from behind this time he stalked some very fast fractions and in the stretch pulled away from the rest of the field !!!! Very nice win.
Also I guess with the passing of Uncle Mo it really raised the stock of his son, Arabian Knight. I heard he was bred to 273 mares this past spring. I wonder what kind of deal Zedan made when he retired him last fall?
Have a Great Week Steve !!! Looking forward to your handicapping next week
Barnes was $3.2 mil purchase. He’s a nice horse, not a Derby horse as I predicted nearly ten months ago.
I think he could have been a Derby horse if BB had tried making him more of a closer like Mott has done with Sovereignty. What I really what is happening with Sovereignty is he is more versatile with his running style.
Sovereignty has skills with a Z !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After last year…with the :44 4/5 early half…..I just think they will run a lot closer to ;46 4/5, this time around….which would likely favorite Fierceness and Forever Young—Sovereignty seemingly can adjust to any pace….and I just cannot toss out Baeza—what a field! Whomever you land on, there’s confidence!
Matthew, I agree with you and with 4 entries in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Today Pletcher Has a full hand to dictate the structure and pace of the race. Fearceness and Mindframe look deadly to me. They can slow the pace down early to totally disadvantage the late runners during the middle part of the race then sprint home the last 2 furlongs.
Davids—IF less than 14 are entered…Chad could enter his “rabbit”…interesting stat, about Shirreffs….he has had 6 Classic runners, finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th—-now will Baeza grab 7th?
Matthew, I think Baeza will run better than 7th in fact Baeza may surprise quite a few. Forever Young and Baffert’s Nevada Beach worry me quite a bit more than the supposed favorites.
Forever Young is a factor, NV not so much.
I’m not a poster boy for Bob Baffert but his charges are always dangerous, especially in California, even when they don’t appear to be by performance standards.