Sierra Leone wins $7M Breeders’ Cup Classic after suffering close loss in Kentucky Derby

DEL MAR, Calif. — Sierra Leone won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday at Del Mar, ending a frustrating run of recent losses.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.78. Sent off as the 6-1 fourth choice, he paid $15.80, $5.60 and $3.60 in his first race after a two-month layoff.

Sierra Leone lost by a nose to Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby and then finished third in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. That’s where he was second in the Jim Dandy and third in the Travers.

Chad Brown earned his 19th career Cup win, leaving him one short of career leading trainers Aidan O’Brien, who won two races Friday, and D. Wayne Lukas. Prat won his 49th graded stakes race of the year.

Fierceness, the 5-2 favorite, returned $4.40 and $3.20. Forever Young of Japan was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.60 to show. Newgate, trained by Bob Baffert, was fourth in the full field of 14.

Ireland-based City of Troy, the 4-1 third choice with six wins in seven career starts on Turf, finished eighth in his first start on dirt for O’Brien. 

In the $2 million Distaff, Thorpedo Anna won by 2 1/2 lengths, helping trainer Ken McPeek snap an 0-for-37 skid in the Breeders’ Cup.

She ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.10 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. Sent off as the 2-5 favorite, she paid $2.80 — the second-shortest win payout in Breeders’ Cup history.

“The expectation with her is so high,” McPeek said. “I love the fact that Brian took the initiative and just got it done. For me, it was workmanlike and that’s what you need.”

Hernandez and McPeek teamed to win the Kentucky Derby by a nose in May.

The victory on a sunny and cool day at the oceanside 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’s in the conversation for Horse of the Year honors.

In the $5 million Turf, 9-5 favorite Rebel’s Romance held off late-closing 22-1 shot Rousham Park to win by a neck, the ninth European horse to do so in the last 10 runnings.

Rebel’s Romance ran 1 1/2 miles in 2:26.07 under jockey William Buick and paid $5.80 to win. The 6-year-old gelding has been a globetrotter, winning in Qatar, Dubai, Hong Kong, Britain, Germany and the U.S. for trainer Charlie Appleby. 

Another horse, 3-year-old France-bred Jayarebe, collapsed on the track after finishing seventh in the Turf and died.

“It was suspected to be a cardiac event,” said Dr. Al Ruggles, the on-call veterinarian. 

In other races:

— Soul of an Angel spotted the field 12 lengths before rallying on the far outside to win the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint by a half-length. The 19-1 shot paid $41.60 to win. She ran seven furlongs in 1:21.59 under jockey Drayden Van Dyke. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. earned his first Cup victory. 

— Starlust scored a huge upset in the $1 million Turf Sprint after a long delay at the start and a claim of foul. Ridden by Rossa Ryan, 30-1 shot Starlust ran five furlongs in 55.92 seconds and paid $69.20. Starlust won by a neck over Motorius. Believing flipped in the gate and dumped jockey Ryan Moore, who walked away unharmed. She was scratched from the race, but appeared unharmed. Jockey Manny Franco aboard Isivunguvungu claimed foul against Ryan and Starlust, but after a stewards’ review there was no change to the order of finish.