Kentucky-bred Sierra Leone secured a spot in the starting gate for the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) with an impressive win in the 100th running of the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday, April 6.
Owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Limited and Brook Smith, Sierra Leone made a five-wide move at the head of the lane. He soared to the front before the sixteenth pole to post a 1 ½-length victory over Just a Touch. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Sierra Leone covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.08. With the win, Sierra Leone earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard, giving him 155 total points to lead all contenders. Runner-up Just a Touch also earned a berth in the Derby, picking up 50 points for a total of 75.
Sierra Leone a Star From the Start
Bred by Debby Oxley, Sierra Leone is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love. Winner of the Risen Star Stakes (G2) in his previous start, he has now earned $918,000 and his record stands at 4-3-1-0. Sierra Leone delayed the start of the Blue Grass because he refused to load. The promising colt was a $2.3 million acquisition at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.
“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,” said Chad Brown. “But we’ll do plenty of gate schooling before the (Kentucky) Derby. And I don’t anticipate that being a problem for him. He’s just a natural athlete. I’m so lucky, so appreciative of the ownership group.
“I mean, look, he’s been a star since he’s been born,” Brown added. “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 really figure it out, but he’s only had a handful of starts. There’s such good chemistry with Tyler and Sierra Leone is 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.”