BC Classic Winner Sierra Leone Voted Champion 3YO Male

After losing the Kentucky Derby (G1) by a nose, it figured that Sierra Leone's drive for the 3-year-old male championship would come down to the final furlong of America's richest dirt race. Lifted by a 1 1/2-length victory in the year-end $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the $2.3 million yearling buy was announced Jan. 23 as the 2024 champion 3-year-old male at the 54th annual Eclipse Awards dinner. Sierra Leone, a son of Gun Runner bred by Debby Oxley in Kentucky, won three of his seven 2024 starts for trainer Chad Brown, but was extremely consistent. Aside from winning the Classic, Blue Grass Stakes (G1), and Risen Star Stakes (G2), he was second in the Kentucky Derby and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and third in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1). "He had a very consistent season from start to finish," Brown said. "In the most challenging race of the year, in the richest race in North America against older horses in the Classic, he was able to defeat them. I think that solidified the championship for him. I am very proud of his season. I was disappointed by the outcome of the Kentucky Derby, but I have never been disappointed in any of his efforts." Owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith, the son of the Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love has earned $6,008,000 in his career, more than covering the hefty price paid for him at Fasig-Tipton's 2022 The Saratoga Sale where he was consigned by Gainesway. Second in the Remsen Stakes (G2) as a 2-year-old, Sierra Leone started 2024 by capturing the Risen Star and Blue Grass and was sent off as the 9-2 second choice behind favored Fierceness in the Kentucky Derby. He was 18th early on, then staged a furious stretch rally alongside Forever Young (JPN) in an unprecedented blanket finish in the opening leg of the Triple Crown. At the wire, Mystik Dan held off Sierra Leone by a nose with Forever Young another nose back in third. Following losses in the Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, and Travers—all at Saratoga Race Course—Brown had Sierra Leone at his best for the Classic at Del Mar. In a showdown with Travers winner Fierceness, Sierra Leone rallied from 11th to catch that rival at the top of stretch and draw clear in the final eighth of a mile. Sierra Leone beat runner-up Fierceness by 1 1/2 lengths with Fierceness 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Forever Young in a 1-2-3 finish for 3-year-olds. Plans call for Sierra Leone to continue racing this year as a 4-year-old.