Sierra Leone outduels Fierceness to win $7M Breeders’ Cup Classic

Sierra Leone charged into contention exiting the far turn and then outpaced Fierceness through the lane to prevail by 1 ½ lengths to win the 41st running of the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone covered the 1 ¼ miles in 2:00.78. The victory is the 19th for Brown in the World Championships and the first in the Classic. Prat picked up a second Classic victory to go with the Flightline triumph at Keeneland in 2022 and sixth overall.

“Awesome. It’s been a challenging Breeders’ Cup so far. A couple of horses didn’t fire. A couple of trips didn’t go our way. I have such an unbelievable team and had a lot of confidence in this horse. It sure looked like on paper that the race could set up for him,” said Sierra Leone winning trainer Chad Brown.

“I am so proud and happy for the horse. He’s been so consistent and is such an honest horse. One of the best I’ve ever had,” Brown said. “I thought we took a tough beat in the [Kentucky] Derby, but we did it with class and respect and went back to the drawing board and worked on getting him straight. My team deserves a lot of credit for working with this horse.”

1 breeders — Fun, fashion, and fillies filled the grandstand and Plaza de Mexico during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Saturday. Above, from left, Heather, Melania, Shay, and Dawn from Norman, Okla., came to Del Mar for a girls weekend to watch and bet on the ponies. Saturday’s attendance was 36,436. Total common-pool handle on Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $115.53 million.

1a breeders — The fashionable fans came out for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Saturday to see and be seen. Pretty in pink is Carly Bigi from New York City. ALL PHOTOS BY THOMAS MELVILLE

3 breeders — Michele and Jo from Northern California along with ‘Best Dressed Lady’ Kathleen Kenneally from Philadelphia.

4 breeders — Terry and Roxy from Ireland pose in front of the flower wall.

5 breeders — Gina, Lisa, Gayle, Margie, and Mimi from Louisville, Ky., pose in Plaza de Mexico.

6 breeders — Melanie, Stephenie, and Valarie from Texas in Plaza de Mexico.

Derma Sotogake (Japan) led the field through rapid early fractions of 22.43, 44.96, and 1:09.44 with Fierceness tracking just off his flank. Going into the far turn, Fierceness ranged up outside Derma Sotogake and took over with Sierra Leone on the move right behind him.

Sierra Leone drew on even terms with Fierceness at the top of the stretch and shot on by and slowly extended his margin to the wire. Forever Young (Japan) rallied to finish third, 1 ¼ lengths behind Fierceness and a half-length in front of Newgate.

“The pace was good and we found ourselves in a good spot,” said winning jockey Prat, who rode Sierra Leone. “I was able to stay outside and the whole way around (the track) it felt like I was gaining ground on the leaders. 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.”

The victory was worth $3.64 million and improved Sierra Leone’s earnings to $6 million with a record of 9-4-3-2. It is the second Grade 1 victory for the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner out of the Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love.

“He’s a great horse and he took to this track today, got the pace he needed, and it was his day today,” Brown said.

Tags: Breeders’ Cup Classic Del Mar Fierceness Flavien Prat Sierra Leone