Sierra Leone Heads to Kentucky Derby As a Favourite

Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Limited, and Brook Smith’s SIERRA LEONE made a five-wide move at the top of the stretch and roared to the front before the sixteenth pole to post a 1½-length victory in the 100th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1).

The victory secured a spot for the talented colt in the starting gate for the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve to be run at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Meanwhile, several Keeneland wagering records fell on Toyota Blue Grass Day. All-sources handle for the 11-race card totaled $29,261,346, eclipsing the previous single-day wagering record of $28,137,728 set in 2022. Single-race win/place/show wagering of $2,576,663 in the Toyota Blue Grass shattered the 2019 record of $2,068,046. The All Stakes Pick 5 ending with the Toyota Blue Grass handled $1,696,981, breaking the 2022 record of $1,539,098.

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Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Sierra Leone completed the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:50.08, bucking the main track trend that favoured horses on or near the pace. He earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 98 according to Daily Racing Form. The Blue Grass was the third win in four races (he lost the other by a nose) and he has earned $918,000.

It was the third victory in the race for Brown, who won with Good Magic in 2018 and Zandon in 2022.

With the victory, Sierra Leone earned 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby and enough to earn a spot in the race that is limited to the top 20 point earners and invitees on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Sierra Leone has 155 points.

Also locking up a spot by picking up 50 points for second was Just a Touch to give him 75 points.

Other horses earning points from the Toyota Blue Grass were Epic Ride with 25 for third, Dornoch with 15 for fourth and Mugatu with 10 for fifth. Only Dornoch (75 points) of those three is safely in the top 20.

Sierra Leone delayed the start of the race by being reluctant to load. Once the race began, he dropped back to the rear of the field.

Up front, Top Conor raced off to an uncontested lead with Just a Touch and Epic in closest pursuit through fractions of :23.15, :46.48 and 1:10.83. On the far turn, Sierra Leone began to pick off horses and was running in the clear when the field hit the top of the stretch.

At that point, Top Conor was in retreat as Just a Touch took over with Epic Ride racing second. The top two stayed that way to mid-stretch, but Sierra Leone had all the momentum and, despite lugging in several paths through the stretch, surged past Just a Touch before the 16th pole and coasted to victory. The colt has a somewhat unusual stride in that he ‘paddles’ noticeably with his left front foreleg, which makes things dicey if he gets too close to an inside rival.

Sierra Leone is a three-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love, who was trained by Woodbine’s leading conditioner Mark Casse.

Trainer Brown said about the colt’s antics pre-race: “He hesitates a touch here and there, but really the outside post with the wonderful, large crowd we have at Keeneland today got him just a little bit stirred up, (jockey) Tyler (Gaffalione) said. Probably from just the outside post. But we’ll do plenty of gate schooling before the (Kentucky) Derby, and I don’t anticipate that being a problem for him.”

Sent off as the favourite in the field of 10, Sierra Leone returned $5.32, $3.28 and $3.06. Just a Touch, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $4.24 and $3.74 and finished 3¾ lengths in front of Epic Ride, who paid $9.12 to show under Adam Beschizza.

“I mean, look, (Sierra Leone’s) been a star since he’s been born. The (John and Debby) Oxleys are here, who bred the horse. Tyler did such a great job. I have a great team. We’re just trying to maintain pretty much the way he’s been his whole life, a special horse. I don’t know if they ever fully figure it out, but he’s only had a handful of starts. But there’s such good chemistry with Tyler and Sierra Leone his last two starts. You can see he wants to lean in a little bit, but it’s never too bad. He’s still polishing off his experience and his skills, and I just think a mile-and-a-quarter won’t be a problem going forward. We’re looking forward to it.”

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Dornoch, who was followed in order by Mugatu, Top Conor, Seize the Grey, Be You, Lat Long and Good Money.

~ with files from Keeneland media