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DEL MAR — Sierra Leone’s reputation was as a talented horse you never thought could win. In the past four races, he has finished second twice and third twice. That all changed Saturday when he charged at the front of the straight to win the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar Turf Club.
The three-year-old colt defeated popular Fierceness, winner of the Travers Stakes, by a length and a half. Japanese horse Forever Young came in 3rd place, and Newgate came in 4th place.
Sierra Leone came out of 11th place in the 14-horse field and hovered around mid-pack until the far turn when things started to move. I was 3rd in the mile. He entered the stretch and engaged Fierce, but ultimately his slow speed was too much for his competitor.
“This moment for him helped him overcome all the frustrations of the year.” [is unbelievable]” trainer Chad Brown said. [There were] I went into the race thinking that I could finally win the Derby or the Traverse with this horse, but instead of winning, I put down the saddle and walked away. This really makes up for it.
“This is an incredible horse. Anyone could have trained him and he would have had a great career because he’s just an outstanding looking horse. He’s well bred and your It makes my job easier.”
Sierra Leone paid $15.80 to win as the fourth choice.
Jockey Flavien Prat is riding a 3-year-old stallion for the fourth time. The horse’s last win was on April 6 in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.
All the talk heading into the race was about the City of Troy, a six-out-of-seven career champion. The only problem is that he only runs on grass, mostly in England. The question was how he would perform in a 1 1/4-mile race on dirt. The answer was that he finished 8th.
The Classic is the signature two-day Breeders’ Cup event and the richest race in the United States. It was held in the middle of the card for the second year in a row as NBC switched to college football games. The first 39 years were held as the last Breeders’ Cup races.
The day took a tragic turn on the $5 million turf as Jaya Lebe collapsed during a post-race gallop out. According to the racetrack veterinarian, the main reason was sudden death due to a heart attack. He finished seventh in the race at odds of approximately 9 to 1.
This is the 15th death in the 41-year history of the Breeders’ Cup. The last death occurred in the 2019 Classic when Mongolian Groom broke down in the lead.
Jaya Rebe is a 3-year-old stallion who primarily races in Europe. It was his eighth career race.
Thorped Anna easily won the $2 million Distaff Award, given to mares running 1 1/8 miles on dirt, and claimed Horse of the Year. She took the lead and broke, then won comfortably by two and a half lengths. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. took advantage of the slow pace to win what was little more than a paid workout.
Distaff lost a lot of firepower when last year’s champion Idiomatic was hurt in the race. Torpedo Anna won six of seven races this year. Her only defeat was by a head to Fierceness in the Travers Stakes against all male horses.
“She makes it look so easy because she’s so special,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “She really made our job easier all year long.
McPeak said the current plan is to take her back to when she was 4 years old.
“We’re going to put together a plan for that,” McPeak said. “I think she’s having a lot of fun and is healthy. We’ll probably have her visit the Dr. [Larry] bramlage [of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.] And give her a little poke to make sure everything is going well before you make a firm decision. ”
One of the early surprises came when heavy favorite Cogburn lost the five-furlong race to Starlast ($69.20) in the $1 million Turf Sprint. Cogburn entered the straight with a two-and-a-half length lead, but just ran out of gas. He finished in 6th place.
Starlast, who runs in the UK, has received little attention as he has finished 9th, 3rd and 6th in his last three races.
Jockey Rossa Ryan said, “I thought Cogburn, the leader, had slipped.” “They couldn’t stand our frenzied gallop.”
The first Breeders’ Cup race of the day was the seven-furlong Million Dollar Filly Sprint, won by Soul of an Angel ($41.60). The 5-year-old filly has been working hard to run in her 41st career race. This was her sixth career victory.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Drayden Van Dyke.
Van Dyke, a Southern California representative, took some time off from racing last year, so Saturday’s victory was a welcome milestone.
“I personally felt it was necessary,” Van Dyke said. “I’ve been running non-stop since I was 18. I lost my dad at 18. I just kept running. I never really grieved or processed everything. . I took a vacation for myself.”
Rebels Romance ($5.80) won the $5 million Turf for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick.
After the Classic, there were four other Breeders’ Cup races.
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