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Flavien Prat celebrates aboard Sierra Leone after winning the Classic.

Breeders' Cup
World Championships Results

Date: 11/2/2024

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The $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) featured a full field of 14 older horses going 1 1/4 miles on the main track in a race that heavily influences Eclipse Award voting for Champion Older Horse and Horse of the Year. Fierceness was sent off as the 11-4 favorite off wins in the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1) at Saratoga. In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice City of Troy, winner of the Epsom Derby (G1), Coral Eclipse (G1), and Juddmonte International (G1) in England, and 4-1 third choice Forever Young, winner of the Japan Dirt Classic after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (G1).


Sierra Leone draws away down the stretch.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire sent 42-1 Derma Sotogake to the lead first time by through fractions of 22.43, 44.96, and 1:09.44 while pressed by Fierceness and stalked by Forever Young. Into the stretch Derma Sotogake tired allowing Fierceness to lead through 1 mile in 1:35.05. 7-1 fourth choice Sierra Leone, 10th early under Flavien Prat, came out 5 wide to gain the lead midstretch, drawing off late to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Fierceness in 2:00.78. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Forever Young third.

Sierra Leone wins the Classic
Pgm  Horse               Jockey            Win   Place  Show
11   Sierra Leone        Prat            15.80    5.60  3.60
 9   Fierceness          Velazquez                4.40  3.20
 1   Forever Young       Sakai                          3.60

Winning Time:  2:00.78

$1 Exacta 11-9                            29.80
$1 Trifecta 11-9-1                       131.20
$1 Superfecta 11-9-1-13                2,025.80
$1 Super High Five 11-9-1-13-5        36,365.60
Results chart

Left: Sierra Leone heads to the winner's circle. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, "Obviously the pace was good and we found ourselves in a good spot. I was able to stay outside and the whole way around (the track) it felt like I was gaining ground on the leaders. Actually I was a bit worried that I got there (to the front) too soon but once I got the lead, I asked him to make his move and that was it."

Right: Sierra Leone heads back to the barn. Winning trainer Chad Brown said, "I am so proud and happy for the horse. He's come up short a few times and had some excuses. He's been so consistent and is such an honest horse. One of the best I've ever had. It's such a great ownership group. Everyone is just so patient. He ran straight and it's been a long season for him. I thought we took a tough beat in the (Kentucky) Derby, but we did it with class and respect and went back to the drawing board and worked on getting him straight."

Left: Sierra Leone exits the tunnel to the track. Prat added, "It felt like they were going fast and to me, it felt like they were all lined up and at no point I felt that anybody was going to hit the brakes so it was good."

Right: Sierra Leone in the post parade. Brown added, "It means so much to have this box checked, if you will. A huge dirt race. Particularly for this horse and his Kentucky Derby. That was a tough moment for everyone involved because you never know when you're going to get there again. It's such a tough race to win. For him to redeem himself and close out the year as probably the best 3-year-old in a very deep division, I could not be more happy for this horse. He really deserves it."

Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Fierceness returns after the race. Jockey John Velazquez said, "Yeah, there was nothing I can do about the fast pace. I tried to get keep him off the bridle a little but when the two horses came in outside, he grabbed onto the bridle and I knew then I was in trouble. I saw (Sierra Leone coming) and there was nothing I could about it. I did all the work in the first part of the race. He did a little too much early."

Right: Third place finisher Forever Young in the post parade. The Yoshito Yahagi trainee improved his record to 6 wins, 0 seconds, and 2 thirds in 8 starts, earning $3,614,668 for owner Susumu Fujita.


Shortly after the start of the Classic. Christophe Lemaire aboard pacesetter Derma Sotogake (6) said, "It was easy for him to take the lead but we got pressure. He didn't have energy at the final bend."

Saturday Results Summary (dirt)  -  Saturday Results Summary (turf)  -  F&M Sprint -  Turf Sprint -  Dirt Mile -  F&M Turf -  Sprint -  Mile -  Distaff -  Turf -  Classic
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