Future Coolmore Stallion Sierra Leone Wins G1 Whitney

Last year’s Champion 3-Year-Old Colt, Sierra Leone was back to his winning ways on Saturday with a last-to-first finish in the Grade I Whitney Stakes.

The future Coolmore stallion wasn’t in a hurry to join the duel for the lead in the 1 1/8-mile race and settled in as the back marker as two runners opened multiple lengths on the field. It wasn’t until the far turn that he started picking off horses when urged on by jockey Flavien Prat, but it was clear he was going to be a threat in the stretch.

Sierra Leone was in clear contention for the lead as they straightened into the stretch and barreled down the outside of the pack. Highland Falls tried to stick with him late, but Sierra Leone proved too good. He hit the line a length in front to win his third Grade I.

Raced by the Coolmore partners with Peter Brant, Westerberg, and Brook Smith, the Chad Brown-trained Sierra Leone has hit the board in all 12 of his starts. The colt also won the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic and Grade I Blue Grass S takes with seconds in the Grade I Kentucky Derby and the Grade I Stephen Foster and thirds in the Grade I Belmont Stakes and Grade I Travers Stakes rounding out his Grade I starts.

The earner of $6,806,200, Sierra Leone was also the winner of the Grade II Risen Star Stakes last year.

“It’s incredible what he did last year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – it was an astonishing run, really. He’s a very good racehorse and to do it again here today being in Saratoga – we thought he didn’t handle the track here last year, and he’s matured. He’s a very good horse. We’re blessed to be here and it’s exciting. We just look forward to the Breeders’ Cup,” said M.V. Magnier after Sierra Leone secured a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with this win.

Sierra Leone is out of the Grade I winner Heavenly Love, who comes from a top family. The mare’s dam Darling My Darling won multiple stakes and was multiple Grade I placed on the track before producing Heavenly Love and Grade II winner Forever Darling. Forever Darling produced Grade I winner Forever Young, who finished one spot behind Sierra Leone in last year’s Kentucky Derby.

This family also includes the Japan Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy and Sierra Leone’s Grade I winner Roamin Rachel, showing why his racing connections paid a sale topping $2.3 million for him at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in 2022.

Sierra Leone will retire to Coolmore America at the conclusion of his racing career.