Sierra Leone stands tall amongst New York-based Breeders' Cup contenders

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships slated for Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1 at Del Mar will see a host of New York-based horses compete across the two-day, 14-race event, including a title defense attempt for Sierra Leone in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which coincides with Closing Weekend of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet, kicks off on Friday with five races on its Future Stars program, highlighted by the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Aqueduct Racetrack will host a nine-race card on Friday, featuring the Listed Tempted [Race 2] and the Listed Pumpkin Pie [Race 8]. First post at Aqueduct on Friday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern with the building open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. to accommodate the Breeders’ Cup Future Stars program from Del Mar.

The Big A will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday so racing fans can watch and wager on the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup from Del Mar. Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program is headlined by the Grade 1, $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. First post on Saturday's 10-race card at the Big A, which features the Listed Nashua [Race 4] and Listed Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship [Race 9], is 12:05 p.m.

Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith’s Sierra Leone closed from 11th-of-14 to capture last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths over returning rival Fierceness at Del Mar. Trained by five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, the victory propelled the Gun Runner dark bay to Champion 3-Year-Old Colt honors.

“This is bittersweet,” Brown said of Sierra Leone’s upcoming final race. “You hate to lose the best horse you’ve ever trained, but knowing I’ll get one more shot to run him, it’s special. He’s been such a special horse for our team and me, personally, to have a Champion 3-Year-Old, and again, the best horse I’ve trained.”

Coolmore America announced earlier this month that Sierra Leone would take up stud duties at Ashford Stud in 2026 following this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Now a 4-year-old, Sierra Leone has continued his success with a 4-1-2-1 record this season, highlighted by a one-length score over Highland Falls in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Whitney on August 2 at Saratoga Race Course. The win marked a milestone for Brown, a 46-year-old native of Mechanicville, N.Y., who secured his first Whitney triumph courtesy of Sierra Leone’s signature late kick.

Sierra Leone, a $2.3 million purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, debuted later into his juvenile season at Aqueduct Racetrack, winning a one-turn mile maiden in November 2023 ahead of a nose defeat to eventual dual Grade 1-winner Dornoch in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen the following month at the Big A.

Sierra Leone returned with blinkers on for his sophomore campaign, which he launched last February with a win in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds and the Grade 1 Blue Grass that April at Keeneland. He was then defeated just a nose by Mystik Dan in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, finished a 1 1/2-length third to Dornoch in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, and ran a second and third to Fierceness in the Spa’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun and Grade 1 DraftKings Travers, respectively.

“To know that he is wrapping up just an outstanding career in the richest race in America as the defending champ, and going on to one of the most successful and most beautiful farms in the world, that’s the sweet part,” said Brown about the horse who has never missed the board among 13 career starts, compiling earnings of more than $7 million.

Sierra Leone enters this year’s Classic off a 1 1/2-length second to Antiquarian in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on August 31 at Saratoga. With regular rider Flavien Prat aboard, Sierra Leone was forced to alter course to avoid a fallen jockey within the first sixteenth of the 10-furlong test. Undeterred, Sierra Leone rallied from last-of-7 and 18 lengths off the pace for place honors.

“I think it showed a lot about this horse,” said Brown. “His consistency and overall constitution– to jump over a jockey and spot the field more than 10 lengths, and then nearly come back and win, I think that really sums up to me, what this horse is made of.”

Now, Brown looks ahead to Sierra Leone’s swan song before he embarks on his next chapter at stud.

“He’s heading off to a very promising next career in as good of hands as you could have going to Coolmore,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we can finish our job, deliver him there safely and as a repeat Champion.”

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Three horses represent New York-bred program at World Championships

The New York-bred program is represented at the Breeders’ Cup by three entrants, including Rhetorical in the Grade 1 Mile, Iron Orchard in the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies and Whatchatalkinabout in the Grade 1 Sprint.

Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable’s Rhetorical punched his ticket to the Mile with a win in Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile on October 4 at Keeneland. Trained by Will Walden, the 4-year-old Not This Time gelding previously captured the state-bred West Point presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in August at Saratoga among his current four-race win streak.

“The New York breeding program is strong,” Walden said. “He’s doing well and came out of his race really good.”

Bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, Rhetorical, a $320,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Preferred Yearling Sale out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor, is a half-brother to New York-bred millionaire Sterling Silver, who is multiple graded stakes placed.

Iron Orchard takes a comparable path to the Juvenile Fillies, winning a state-bred stakes ahead of a Grade 1, taking the Seeking the Ante on August 22 at the Spa ahead of the “Dirt Dozen” Frizette last out on October 4 at Belmont at the Big A. Trained by Danny Gargan, the 3-for-3 Authentic dark bay sold for $2.5 million to KatieRich Farms at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-October Digital Sale following the Frizette.

Bred by Pine Ridge Stable, Iron Orchard is out of the dual stakes-placed Brethren mare Onebrethatatime, a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Wonderlandbynight.

Rounding out the New York-bred contingent is Ice Wine Stable’s Whatchatalkinabout for trainer Wesley Ward in the Grade 1 Sprint. The 4-year-old Dialed In gelding was third last out in the Grade 2 Phoenix on October 3 at Keeneland. The dark bay, bred by Newtown Anner Stud, won the Grade 3 John A. Nerud in May at Belmont at the Big A.

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A closer look at NYRA-based trainers with starters at the Breeders' Cup:

Jorge Abreu: Scottish Lassie [Distaff]

Chad Brown: Sierra Leone [Classic], Contrary Thinking [Classic], Village Voice [Filly and Mare Turf], Chancer McPatrick [Dirt Mile], Hill Road [Turf], Redistricting [Turf], Program Trading [Mile]

Mark Casse: Nitrogen [Distaff], Bring Theband Home [Turf Sprint], Final Accord [Juvenile Fillies Turf]

Miguel Clement: Tawny Port [Turf], Bellezza [Filly and Mare Turf], Bottas [Juvenile Turf], Intricate Spirit [Juvenile Turf Sprint]

Brad Cox: Stellify [Filly and Mare Turf], Infinite Sky [Juvenile Fillies Turf]

Cherie DeVaux: Rebel Red [Turf], She Feels Pretty [Filly and Mare Turf], Vahva [Filly and Mare Sprint]

Danny Gargan: Iron Orchard [Juvenile Fillies]

Ray Handal: Heeere’s Johnny [Juvenile Turf]

Mark Hennig: Gun Song [Distaff]

Saffie Joseph, Jr.: Be Your Best [Filly and Mare Turf], Haulin Ice [Filly and Mare Sprint], White Abarrio [Dirt Mile]

Mike Maker: Let’s Be Frank [Juvenile Turf]

Ken McPeek: Mystik Dan [Dirt Mile], Blackout Time [Juvenile]

Bill Mott: Sovereignty [Classic], Scylla [Distaff]

Todd Pletcher: Fierceness [Classic], Mindframe [Classic], Antiquarian [Classic], Ted Noffey [Juvenile], Tommy Jo [Juvenile Fillies], Time to Dream [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Celebrity Warrior [Juvenile Fillies Turf]

Chad Summers: Dry Powder [Distaff], Banishing [Sprint]

George Weaver: Dorth Vader [Distaff], Governor Sam [Turf Sprint], Royal Testament [Juvenile Turf Sprint], Cy Fair [Juvenile Turf Sprint]

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New York-based riders will feature prominently at the Breeders' Cup:

Junior Alvarado: Scylla [BCD], Sovereignty [BCC], Bobrovsky [AE- JTS]

Javier Castellano: Heeere’s Johnny [JT], Bring Theband Home [TS], Patriot Spirit [BCS]

Manny Franco: Bottas [JT], Tawny Port [BCT]

Irad Ortiz, Jr.: Cy Fair [JTS], Time to Dream [JFT], Blackout Time [JUV], Gordon Pass [JT], Vahva [FMS], Shisospicy [TS], Bentornato [BCS], Sarawak Rim [BCD], Rebel Red [BCT], Mindframe [BCC], Rhetorical [BCM], White Abarrio [DM], Be Your Best [FMT]

Jose Ortiz: Obliteration [JTS], Meaning [JF], Final Accord [JFT], Litmus Test [JUV], Caro Buono [JT - AE], Hope Road [FMS], Nakatomi [BCS], Nitrogen [BCD], Journalism [BCC], Gas Me Up [BCM], Chancer McPatrick [DM]

Flavien Prat: Royal Testament [JTS], Rogue Legend [AE- JTS], La Wally [JF], Infinite Sky [JFT], Brant [JUV], Argos [JT], Splendora [FMS], Governor Sam [TS], Mullikin [BCS], Clicquot [BCD], Redistricting [BCT], Sierra Leone [BCC], Program Trading [BCM], Nysos [DM], Village Voice [FMT]

Joel Rosario: Intricate Spirit [JTS], Should’ve [AE- JTS], Iron Orchard [JF], Hey Nay Nay [JT], Zeitlos [FMS], Scottish Lassie [BCD], Full Serrano [DM]

John Velazquez: Schwarzenegger [JTS], Tommy Jo [JF], Ultimate Love [JFT], Ted Noffey [JUV], Praying [FMS], Ag Bullet [TS], Straight No Chaser [BCS], Dorth Vader [BCD], Fierceness [BCC], Formidable Man [BCM], She Feels Pretty [FMT]

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A total of 17 Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge races were contested at NYRA tracks in 2025:

TRACK – DATE – RACE – WINNER – WAYI

BSRF - June 6 - Ogden Phipps presented by Ford - Dorth Vader - Distaff

BSRF- June 7 - Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap - Raging Torrent - Dirt Mile

BSRF - June 8 - Jaipur - Ag Bullet - Turf Sprint

SARATOGA - August 2 - Fanduel Fourstardave - Deterministic - Mile

SARATOGA - August 2 - Whitney - Sierra Leone - Classic

SARATOGA - August 9 - Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer - El Cordobes - Turf

SARATOGA - August 23 - Personal Ensign - Thorpedo Anna - Distaff

SARATOGA - August 23 - Resorts World Casino Ballerina - Hope Road - Filly and Mare Sprint

SARATOGA - August 23 - Forego - Book’em Danno - Dirt Mile

SARATOGA - August 30 - Flower Bowl - Bellezza - Filly and Mare Turf

SARATOGA - August 30 - Spinaway - Tommy Jo - Juvenile Fillies

SARATOGA - August 31 - Jockey Club Gold Cup - Antiquarian - Classic

BAQ - September 27 - Vosburgh presented by Army Mule - Patriot Spirit - Sprint

BAQ - October 3 - Pilgrim - Bottas - Juvenile Turf

BAQ - October 3- Futurity - Intricate Spirit - Juvenile Turf Sprint

BAQ - October 4 - Champagne - Napoleon Solo - Juvenile

BAQ - October 4 - Miss Grillo - Ground Support - Juvenile Fillies Turf 

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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