‘Still On The Radar’: Jockey Club Gold Cup Could Be Up Next For Sierra Leone originally appeared on Paulick Report.
When surveying the extensive list of prestigious Saratoga Race Course victories compiled by trainer Chad Brown, there are few missing from his resume.
Advertisement
His list of accomplishments grew even longer on Saturday when Sierra Leone provided the native of nearby Mechanicville, N.Y. with his first victory in the Spa’s Whitney (G1).
The win provided reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Sierra Leone with a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race he seeks a title defense in after taking last year’s edition over the same Del Mar main track it will be contested over this November.
As meaningful as the win was for Brown, he was quick to credit the 4-year-old Gun Runner colt and speak to what a third Grade 1 win means for the future stallion prospect for owners Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith.
“He looks super today. I’m so happy for the horse. He’s starting to really prove his maturity and his special talents,” Brown said. “He’s always been consistent, and he always shows up, but I’m just so proud that he was able to win such a prestigious race.
Advertisement
“For me personally growing up around here, the Whitney has always been one of those races that really makes Saratoga what it is – you think of the Whitney and the Travers when you think about Saratoga,” Brown continued. “What an honor to win the race. I had horses for a short while for Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, and they were always so nice to me. I thought of them yesterday and what a warm reception it would have been for both of them to have given me that trophy having known both of them. My brother, my nephew, my parents, my two daughters were here on a picture-perfect day, and it all came together. Those are just very rare memories, and I’m lucky to be able to be a part of it.”
Sierra Leone notched the victory with his usual deep-closing tactics, tracking in last-of-9 under regular pilot Flavien Prat as stablemate Contrary Thinking sped away to challenge Mama’s Gold for the lead, the pair drawing off to mark splits of 23.82 seconds and 47.07 over the fast dirt.
The pacesetters gave way into the second turn and Sierra Leone had plenty to do as he maneuvered through rivals to angle out seven-wide into the stretch and set his sights on the favored Fierceness after three-quarters in 1:11.59. Highland Falls came with his run between Sierra Leone and the weakening Fierceness, but the Champion had the superior momentum and edged clear of Highland Falls to win by one length in a final time of 1:48.92. He earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.
Brown admitted there were some tense moments as Sierra Leone was still ninth at the three-quarters call.
Advertisement
“I was a little concerned around the half-mile to the three [eighths pole] because I thought he still had a lot to do,” Brown said. “This track can carry some horses sometimes and it gets a little quick. It had been playing fair, but I know it’s a tall order to make up a lot of ground in the stretch at Saratoga in a top race with good horses in front of you. When he passed the quarter pole, he was really coming underneath Flavien and when he found a seam, I was starting to feel a lot better about it.”
Sierra Leone made three previous starts at Saratoga, finishing second in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 DraftKings Travers. Brown was not convinced that Sierra Leone disliked Saratoga, and was proven right in the Whitney.
“It’s very rewarding. I always believed in the horse and I’m so happy for him that he was able to put to bed any doubters or nay-sayers about his overall quality or shortcomings and imperfections he might have,” Brown said. “Early in his career, he lost a couple races from not running straight and such, and the fact that he’s such a professional, polished racehorse right now… I’m just so happy for him because that’s what he deserves and that’s what he is.”
With a third top-level score now on the colt’s perfect in-the-money resume, Brown said he has no qualms about bringing Sierra Leone back in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on August 31 at Saratoga as a springboard to the Classic.
Advertisement
“It’s still on the radar. I know he had a hard race, but he’s only run three times this year, and one thing I’m not going to do is be afraid to run him,” Brown said. “I’m not trying to protect anything like I’m scared to lose with the horse. My goal is to try and repeat in the Classic, and I have to do what’s best for that. I think what’s best for that is one more race.”
Brown, who has won 19 Breeders’ Cup events and two Preaknesses among 171 Grade 1s, has had more than his fair share of generational talent in his barn. Above all of that, there is one dark bay colt who stands tallest amongst all others who have stood in his barn.
“I’ve trained a lot of great horses, and to me, I’d say unequivocally he’s the best horse I’ve had my hands on,” Brown said. “I’ve had great horses on both surfaces and a lot of Champions, but he’s just in a different league.”
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.