Grade 1-winner Sierra Leone rallied from last-of-six and 10 lengths off the pace under Flavien Prat to finish a strong second to the victorious Fierceness in the July 27 $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the Gun Runner colt showed good energy through the final turn but was forced to make an inside run down the lane as Hall of Famer John Velazquez kept Fierceness in the middle of the track.
“He ended up down on the inside and I do think it was deeper down there, but I don’t want to make excuses,” Brown said. “It might have watered down his kick a bit going down in there, but it was a smart race John Velazquez rode to stay outside—we didn’t have any choice, but to go inside. It looked like he was winding up pretty good, but the winner kicked on too from where he was. There were two good horses at the wire and Fierceness was able to find more.”
Brown said Sierra Leone will now set his sights on the 10-furlong $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) August 24 at The Spa.
“I thought he ran great. He put in a really good performance,” Brown said. “He’s come out of it well, so we’ll move forward and point to the Travers. We’re looking forward to getting back out to a mile and a quarter.”
Campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing, and Peter Brant, Sierra Leone captured the Risen Star (G2) in February at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in April at Keeneland. He entered the Jim Dandy from deep-closing efforts in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in May at Churchill Downs where he was bested a nose by Mystik Dan and a good third in the Belmont Stakes (G1) when 1 1/2-lengths back of the more prominent eventual winner Dornoch .
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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