Sierra Leone’s G1 Whitney win a satisfying one for Chad Brown

• Sierra Leone’s G1 Whitney win a satisfying one for Chad Brown
• Riley Mott savoring first graded win with World Beater in G1 Saratoga Derby Inv.
• Deterministic stakes claim as divisional leader
• Ewing to stretch out after G2 Saratoga Special score
• Delightful Claire lives up to her name with scintillating maiden score
• Kilwin shows heart in G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster
• Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey possible for G1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful

When surveying the extensive list of prestigious Saratoga Race Course victories compiled by trainer Chad Brown, there are few missing from the five-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner’s resume.

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 Grade 1, $1 million Whitney.

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.

“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.

“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 here as a springboard to the Classic.

“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.”

The Whitney was the centerpiece of a banner day at the Spa for Brown, who also unleashed a pair of debut juvenile maiden winners in Capital Partner [Race 2] and Ornellaia [Race 6], and sent out Peak Hype to a second-out graduation in Race 13.

Klaravich Stables’ Capital Partner, a son of Kingman, lunged at the start and was 8 3/4-lengths back in eighth-of-10 in the 1 1/16-mile turf maiden, but showed a strong turn-of-foot under Prat to surge late and win by a half-length. He was awarded a 63 Beyer for the effort.

Amo Racing USA and Mark Marxer’s Ornellaia also overcame trouble at the start to carve out a similar trip when rallying from eighth-of-10 in a six-furlong dirt maiden under Prat. The dark bay Girvin filly was still five lengths back in fifth at the stretch call, but gained with every stride into the stretch to drive clear to a 2 1/4-length win. She earned a 72 Beyer for the effort.

Brown closed out the memorable day with one more trip to the winner’s circle, this time with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the saddle as he guided e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ sophomore Peak Hype from 10th-of-12 and 6 3/4-lengths back in the 1 1/16-mile turf maiden to get up just in time with a five-wide move and score by a half-length versus elders. She earned the best Beyer of the three maiden-winners with a 79.

Brown reflected that Saturday was truly a day to cherish.

“It was just an exciting day all around to have four winners on Whitney Day,” Brown said. “I had several different clients have success yesterday and we have a lot to look forward to.”

In Race 8, Brown sent out Intellect and Spirit of St Louis in the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave where they finished a respective second and eighth.

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Steven Bouchey’s Intellect notched his third consecutive runner-up effort in a graded stakes, finishing 1 1/4-lengths behind Deterministic with a rallying trip engineered by Prat. He made contact with Spirit of St Louis when angling out in the stretch before finding his best stride belatedly and earning the minor awards.

“He ran a valiant second,” Brown said. “It was a very, very strong race for him with a deep field.”

New York-bred Spirit of St Louis tracked in fifth under Manny Franco and spun his wheels in the lane before checking behind Intellect and fading to eighth.

“They did brush a little there, and something’s been amiss the last two starts with this horse, but he looks phenomenal,” Brown said. “I will say, his best races are not at Saratoga. That said, he’s run better at Saratoga than his last two. Something went amiss there, so what we won’t do is run him at Saratoga again.” 

On Sunday, Brown sent out Grade 1-winners Excellent Truth and Dynamic Pricing to work five-eighths over the Oklahoma turf training track. Brown said Excellent Truth, last-out winner of the Grade 1 Dunkin’ Diana on July 12 here, is pointing to the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on August 16 at Woodbine while plans for Dynamic Pricing, winner of the Grade 1 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing on June 6 here, are to be determined.

“They did a little five-eighths on the turf, really outstanding,” Brown said. “Excellent Truth goes to the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine and Dynamic Pricing, I’m not sure yet. More of the same from Excellent Truth. She’s been a very consistent horse.”

***

Riley Mott savoring first graded win with World Beater in G1 Saratoga Derby Inv.

During his childhood, trainer Riley Mott would dream about a day when he would follow in his Hall of Fame father Bill Mott’s footsteps and lead his own horse into the winner’s circle for a graded stakes. That dream came to fruition on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course when World Beater took the 1 3/16-mile turf Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational over a field that included Capitol Hill, a trainee for his father.

“That doesn’t happen often,” Mott said of finishing ahead of his father, with a laugh. “It was great. He was happy, and it was a good day. A lot of my family was there, so it was very meaningful.”  

For the third consecutive year, per a partnership between the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Moonee Valley Racing Club, the race’s winner received an automatic berth into the prestigious Group 1, AUD$6 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate, set to take place on October 25. State of Rest captured the 2021 Saratoga Derby and went on to win the Cox Plate.

Pin Oak Stud’s World Beater improved from a runner-up finish to Test Score in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 4 here, and found the winner’s circle with a smart trip engineered by Junior Alvarado, who picked up the mount from Jaime Torres, whose flight was delayed. The son of Oscar Performance was 10 lengths off the pace in fifth through the half-mile in 47.67 seconds before angling off the rail and in between foes to set his sights on the pacesetting Juwelier with Test Score looming large down the center of the course.

World Beater found his best stride in the lane and got the jump on Test Score to pounce on the stubborn pacesetter inside the final eighth and power away to the half-length score in a final time of 1:52.82 over firm going.

Mott gave credit to Alvarado, who is also the regular pilot of the Bill Mott-trained dual Classic-winner Sovereignty.

“Junior made all the right moves, which he’s been doing a lot recently,” Mott said as he scouted the next generation of runners at the Fasig-Tipton yearling sales grounds in Saratoga. “The horse came back really well, clean-legged, jogging sound with good energy. He ships back this afternoon to Keeneland.”

As for a next start for World Beater, Mott said there are several races being considered, with the next New York option the Grade 2 Jockey Club Derby in September at Belmont at the Big A.

“It’s to be determined. We’ll watch him for a week or two and make sure he’s healthy and doing well,” Mott said. “There’s some lucrative 3-year-old turf races going into the fall and I would say everything is an option.

“I always thought he was a horse that would improve with time,” Mott added. “It took us a couple starts to run him on turf, but I think we all kind of thought he’d wind up on the turf. It’s been really nice to see his progression over the course of this year.”

World Record’s Saratoga Derby victory came within an hour of the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave, which was won by the Miguel Clement-trained Deterministic. Miguel Clement is the son of the late trainer Christophe Clement, who shared a barn with Bill Mott at Saratoga where Miguel now occupies the same stalls. The veteran conditioners also spent decades training in close proximity to each other in both New York and Florida.

Riley and Miguel grew up together at the racetrack, and both shared the dream of carving out their own careers as trainers. Mott reflected on the two friends earning top-level victories on the same afternoon at Saratoga.

“It’s what he and I have dreamt about since we were literally in diapers together,” Mott said, with a laugh. “We used to run around in our backyard pretending I was Cigar and he was Flag Down. It was something we always really dreamt about, so it was pretty cool.”

***

Deterministic stakes claim as divisional leader

After staking his claim as the nation’s top older turf horse on Saturday when adding the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave to his Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan score earlier this summer, St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable’s Deterministic, the earner of nearly $2 million has exited his efforts well and will point to more top-level glory this fall for trainer Miguel Clement. Naturally, the end-of-season goal will be the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar.

“He came out in very good order,” Clement said. “We’ll discuss with the connections, but the races that should be on our radar will be the race at Woodbine and the race at Keeneland, obviously. It’s a terrific result. I’m over the moon for the entire team and connections.”

The Grade 1 Woodbine Mile at its namesake venue is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, while Keeneland’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile goes October 4. Clement noted that one or both are possible.

“He’s very game and very sound and doing very well at the moment,” he explained. “I don’t know [if it is one or the other]. Maybe you should strike when the iron is hot, but we have all options on the table.”

Deterministic, 3-for-4 this season with three stakes wins, became the second turf horse in 2025 to win two Grade 1s with Saturday’s triumph, joining Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf and Grade 1 Turf Classic winner Spirit of St Louis - a horse Deterministic defeated in both the Manhattan and Fourstardave. The son of Liam’s Map’s other tally this season was a decisive victory in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy at the Big A on May 3. 

“The stable is firing and that makes everything easier, especially when you have this kind of team and these kinds of horses,” Clement concluded, reflecting on a second Grade 1 victory in his first couple months as head trainer. “I’m very lucky in that regard. It’s very much needed at this time, to be honest with you, and a welcome distraction from everything else.”

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Ewing to stretch out after G2 Saratoga Special score

D. J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and Kenneth Freirich’s Ewing kept a perfect 2-for-2 record intact while besting graded stakes-winner Obliteration by one length in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Knicks Go colt entered the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds from an eye-opening 12-length debut romp on July 5 here. 

On Saturday, with returning rider Jose Ortiz up, Ewing broke a step slow and veered in at the start from the inside post while the sharp-starting favorite Obliteration caught a flyer from the gate. Nevertheless, Ortiz and Ewing hustled up the rail and showed the way through splits of 22.26 seconds and 45.41 over the fast main track, angling wide off the turn as Obliteration struggled to corner. Ortiz straightened away Ewing and powered through the wire in a final time of 1:18.03.

“We're really pleased with his performance. He broke a step slow and that was a good horse he beat,” Casse assistant Shane Tripp said. “It was good race riding and exciting to see. What a day to display him. We’re excited for the connections.”

One of the connections amongst a Whitney Day crowd of 42,316 was co-owner Griffin Johnson, a social media influencer involved with West Point Thoroughbreds that is helping to draw attention to horse racing through his stake in Grade 1-winner Sandman and rising star Ewing.

Johnson, who has a significant following on TikTok [9.7 million], Instagram [2.6 million] and X [1.6 million], was captured on video in the Saratoga grandstand loudly cheering home Ewing – a clip generating a lot of ‘likes’ on social media.

“I was hollering and all these people were staring at us while we were cheering him on,” said Johnson, with a laugh Sunday morning while watching turf works on the Oklahoma training track. “Whenever I post videos like that, people want to know what's going on and it makes people want to experience it for themselves.”

The hope is that Johnson can direct a percentage of his following to understand and appreciate his interest in horse racing. The influencer’s content has portrayed Johnson at the Casse barn helping to bathe and walk horses or simply interacting with the equine athletes like a fan – which he is.

“I always say authenticity is what does it for me,” Johnson said. “There's getting people to click and getting people to stay, and the reason I think we get people to stay is because I show how I really feel.”

And Saturday was definitely a day to showcase both Ewing and horse racing with the 13-race card generating a Whitney Day record handle of $49,651,341.

“Every day I wake up and I try to give people the real experience - yesterday was a good one,” Johnson said.

Tripp said that Ewing, who Casse indicated will stretch out in the Grade 3 Iroquois in September at Churchill Downs, exited the Saratoga Special in good order.

“He came back great,” Tripp said. “We’re excited about him. He ate everything last night and jogged good on the road.

“The way he gets across the ground, I think he'll relish stretching out and not having to rush him off his feet in these short races,” Tripp added. “I think you'll see the best of him when he starts going longer.”

***

Delightful Claire lives up to her name with scintillating maiden score

Owner Richard Rigney, of Rigney Racing, was enjoying a quiet chat with trainer Phil Bauer and staff on Sunday morning beside the paddock at his Saratoga Race Course barn, the day after his 3-year-old filly Delightful Claire graduated at second asking by an eased-up 9 1/4-lengths against elders in a seven-furlong maiden special weight.

Rigney and his wife, Tammy, have three children – the 15-year-old twins Claire and Madison and his 18-year-old son Jonathan – who are represented by the three hearts on the Rigney Racing silks and inspire many of the stable star’s names. Among the familiar names are graded stakes-winner Jonathan’s Way, multiple stakes-winner Warrior Johny, and stakes-placed Mighty Madison to name a few.

On Saturday, Delightful Claire announced herself with a powerful score under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, opening up by seven lengths and impressing track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, who boomed, “…pouring it on through the stretch, seven, eight, nine lengths for Delightful Claire.”

“It was a cool call. I like how he was counting it up,” said Bauer, with a laugh. “She always had a ton of ability, but I don't think you ever expect them to win like that. Yesterday was amazing with the crowd and the weather. Being in the business, it’s exciting to see a town like this where people rally around it.”

Delightful Claire earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure, stopping the clock in 1:22.77 – faster than the 1:23.10 time for Kilwin’s score five races later in the Grade 1 Test presented by Ticketmaster.

“She ran great. We thought she was going to run well, but we had no idea she was going to air like that. It's so exciting,” Rigney said.

And Rigney indicated the filly’s namesake was equally thrilled.

“Claire has always been into horses,” he said. “She's an eventer and every day she goes to the barn in the morning – even if it’s 10 degrees - back in Kentucky where we're from.”

Rigney, a chemist from Pasadena, California, owns Clarendon Flavors.

“I make flavors for distilled spirits in the beverage industry. I’m the creator of Fireball,” Rigney said of the popular cinnamon whisky and the inspiration for such equine athletes as multiple stakes-winner Fireball Baby.

The next sprint stakes option here for sophomore fillies is the six-furlong Grade 3 Prioress on August 30, but Bauer said he would like to stretch out the Thousand Words chestnut.

“She's long, leggy and she has natural speed,” Bauer said. “We were talking this morning about what the next step is. She has such a big stride to her that I think more ground would be right up her alley. We didn't get going with her until three, but it seems like she has a bright future.”

However, Bauer and Rigney Racing are hoping to team up with Halina’s Forte in the Grade 1, $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina on August 23 here, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Del Mar.

Halina’s Forte, last out winner of the local Grade 2 Honorable Miss on July 20, is named for the wife of bloodstock agent John Moynihan.

“Phil and I used to pick horses at the sales, and we were miserable at it, so the missing piece was John Moynihan,” said Rigney, with a laugh.

Halina’s Forte worked back an easy half-mile in 51.25 Saturday over the Spa main track with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

“Irad hopped back aboard, and I told him to let her stretch her legs,” Bauer said. “I just wanted to get her back into the work routine. Right now, we're pointing towards the Ballerina. If it comes up too tough, we might call an audible but she's doing really well, so strike while the iron's hot, you just never know.”

With celebratory breakfast pizza having arrived at the barn, Rigney offered up one more name of interest in Tam Tam, a 2-year-old filly purchased for $975,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

“My wife’s name is Tammy, so we named this one Tam Tam – she’s a Medaglia d’Oro filly that we think highly of,” said Rigney, with a smile.

Tam Tam has worked four times over the Saratoga main track, including a 47.66 half-mile from the gate on July 26 and a five-furlong follow-up Saturday in 1:01.25. Her second dam is dual Grade 1-winner Folklore, who captured the Grade 2 Adirondack here in 2005 as part of a campaign that included top-flight scores at Belmont Park in the Matron and Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies en route to Champion 2-Year-Old Filly honors.

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Kilwin shows heart in G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster

BBN Racing’s Kilwin showed heart when recovering from a stumbling start to win Saturday’s 100th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Rusty Arnold, who won this event in 2001 with Victory Ride, believed Kilwin lost all chance as she stumbled badly under Jose Ortiz and trailed the eight-horse field.

After fractions of 22.52 seconds, 46.12 and 1:10.82 on the fast main track, the pacesetters, including favored stablemate Echo Sound, began to tire and the wide-rallying Kilwin got up in the shadow of the wire to nail fellow closer Ragtime by a neck.

“My emotions were that I thought she was done when she fell on her head out of the gate,” said Arnold. “I was watching my other filly, I had written Kilwin off. Then she appeared on the screen at the eighth-pole. I thought we might get a piece. Then all of a sudden, she won it all.”

The final time of 1:23.10 earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, matching her career-best from a last-out 1 1/4-length win in the seven-furlong Leslie’s Lady on June 8 at Churchill Downs. There, the Twirling Candy bay was making her dirt debut and secured her first victory since the $1 million Untapable in September at Kentucky Downs in her second of five turf starts.

“She’s doing very good this morning. No problems,” said Arnold.

Arnold indicated that Kilwin will return to turf next out in the Grade 2, $2 million [$1 million KTDF] Music City, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on September 6 at Kentucky Downs.

Gabriel Duignan’s Echo Sound, winner of the local Grade 3 Victory Ride here July 3, was also in good order following her prominent sixth, where she dueled for command with Me and Molly McGee and Artisma.

“She’s doing very good. A little tired,” said Arnold. “It wasn't like she didn’t put in a big effort. She fought it out with those horses to the sixteenth pole. We knew we were running her back fairly quick since the Victory Ride, but had to do it, if you are the favorite in the Test, you’re going to run back.

“We will give her just a slight break right now then get ready for the fall,” Arnold added.

***

Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey possible for G1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful

Spendthrift Farm’s Ted Noffey won the 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight opener on Whitney Day and has warranted consideration for the Grade 1, $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful, a seven-furlong sprint for juveniles, on September 1 at Saratoga Race Course.

“I think so, yes,” said Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher of the Hopeful. “I thought that was excellent - very good debut. He had been training well, and we were looking forward to a good effort.”

The Into Mischief gray, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, stalked from the four-path through a half-mile in 46.35 seconds on the fast main track, taking the lead under a drive in upper stretch and holding off Criteria by 1 1/2 lengths under steady urging in a final time of 1:17.56.

The performance earned a 76 Beyer Speed Figure, but what caught most handicappers’ eyes was that the time was faster than the Grade 2 Saratoga Special two races later won by Ewing, a Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star, who held off Grade 3 Sanford-winner and fellow Rising Star Obliteration in 1:18.03.

“It was interesting to be faster than the stake,” said Pletcher. “I thought he did everything the right way. He came out of it excellent.”

Ted Noffey, named after a misspelling of Spendthrift Farm General Manager Ned Toffey, was a $650,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of dual graded-stakes placed Old Fashioned mare Streak of Luck.

Pletcher also updated on Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier’s Fierceness, who was fifth as the favorite in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, a nine-furlong test for older horses.

The 4-year-old City of Light bay, piloted by Velazquez, sat third well behind longshots Mama’s Gold and Contrary Thinking, gained entering the second turn while encountering some traffic and took the lead nearing the quarter-pole. He lost his advantage before the eighth-pole as Sierra Leone went on to win by one-length over Highland Falls.

“He looked very good this morning,” said Pletcher. “I thought it was a bit of a rough trip. He got parked out pretty wide on both turns and didn’t finish quite as well as we hoped.”