Sierra Leone wins the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sierra Leone won the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic by a length and a half in Del Mar on Saturday, ending a frustrating streak of recent losses, including the Kentucky Derby.

Under Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone ran 1¼ miles in 2:00.78. The three-year-old colt was sent off as the fourth choice at 6-1, paying $15.80, $5.60 and $3.60 in his first race after a two-month layoff.

“I’m so happy for the horse because he came up short a few times,” trainer Chad Brown said. “I thought he had a few excuses, but he was so consistent and he's such an honest horse, one of the best I've ever had.”

Sierra Leone narrowly lost to Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby and then finished third in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. There he also came second in the Jim Dandy and third in the Travers.

“He took a tough loss in the Derby but we did it with class and respect, just went back to the drawing board and worked to get him right,” Brown said. “He’s a great horse, he’s done this route and today was his day.”

Brown has 19 Cup victories, one ahead of career-leading trainers Aidan O'Brien, who won two races Friday, and D. Wayne Lukas.

It was Brown's first win in the Classic on his fourth attempt. His mentor, the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, won the 2004 Classic with Ghostzapper.

“I always think of him in moments like this,” Brown said.

Fierceness, the 5-2 favorite, returned $4.40 and $3.20. Forever Young of Japan was another 2¾ lengths back in third place and paid $3.60 for the appearance. Newgate, trained by Bob Baffert, finished fourth in the entire 14-man field.

Ireland-based City of Troy, the 4-1 third choice with six wins in seven career starts on turf, finished eighth in O'Brien's first start on clay.

Prat made it to the winner's circle in back-to-back rounds, taking the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf aboard Moira for his 50th graded stakes win of the year.

In the $2 million Distaff, Thorpedo Anna won by 2½ lengths, helping trainer Ken McPeek end a 37-0 loss in the Breeders' Cup.

She ran 1⅛ miles in 1:49.10 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. Sent off as the 2-5 favorite, she paid $2.80 – the second-shortest winnings payout in Breeders' Cup history.

“The expectations for her are so high,” McPeek said. “I love the fact that Brian took the initiative and just got it done. For me it was professional and that’s what you need.”

Hernandez and McPeek teamed up to win the Kentucky Derby in May.

The victory on a sunny and cool day at the seaside race track north of San Diego capped a sensational season for Thorpedo Anna. She also won the Kentucky Oaks and finished a close second to Fierceness in the Travers. She is in discussion for the “Horse of the Year” award.

In the $5 million turf tournament, Rebel's Romance, 9-5 favorite, edged out 22-1 Rousham Park for a narrow victory, the ninth European horse to do so in the last 10 races.

Rebel's Romance ran 1½ miles in 2:26.07 under jockey William Buick and paid $5.80 for the win. The 6-year-old gelding was a globetrotter, winning under trainer Charlie Appleby in Qatar, Dubai, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Germany and the USA.

Another horse, three-year-old French-bred Jayarebe, collapsed on the track after finishing seventh in the turf and died.

“It was suspected that it was a cardiac event,” said Dr. Al Ruggles, the on-call vet.

For other races:

– Moira heads to the sales ring next week after her half-length win in the Filly & Mare Turf. It was the Canadian native's third appearance in the Breeders' Cup and his first victory. She paid $13.60 to win at odds of 5-1. Coach Kevin Attard also secured his first cup win. Cinderella's Dream, the 5-2 favorite, finished second.

– Soul of an Angel surveyed the field for 12 lengths before rallying at the far end to win the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint by half a length. The 19-1 shot earned $41.60 for the win. Under jockey Drayden Van Dyke she ran seven furlongs in 1:21.59. Coach Saffie Joseph Jr. won his first cup victory.

– Starlust pulled off a big upset in the $1 Million Turf Sprint after a long start delay and a foul. Ridden by Rossa Ryan, Starlust ran five furlongs in 55.92 seconds at 30-1 and paid $69.20. Starlust narrowly won over Motorius. Believing turned the gate over and dropped jockey Ryan Moore, who escaped unhurt. She suffered a scratch during the race but appeared to be uninjured. Jockey Manny Franco aboard Isivunguvungu claimed a foul against Ryan and Starlust, but following a review by the stewards there was no change in the finishing order.