Sierra Leone rallies powerfully for Blue Grass

Apr 06, 2024

Sierra Leone confirmed himself as one of the favorites for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4, utilizing a dynamic late kick to win Saturday’s $1 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland going away by 1 1/4 lengths. Tyler Gaffalione rides the long and lanky son of Gun Runner for Chad Brown, who notched his third Blue Grass win in the last seven years, and Sierra Leone covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.08 as the 1.66-1 favorite.

The Blue Grass offered points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis as a major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

After closing dramatically to win his 2024 opener, the Feb. 17 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, Sierra Leone was reluctant to load at the Blue Grass starting gate and dropped well off the pace in ninth during the early stages, as stablemate Top Connor showed the way on a short lead while being pursued by Just a Touch in second.

“He hesitates a touch here and there, but really the outside post with the wonderful, large crowd we have at Keeneland today got him just a little bit stirred up, Tyler said. Probably from just the outside post,” Brown said of Sierra Leone’s pre-race antics. “But we’ll do plenty of gate schooling before the (Kentucky) Derby, and I don’t anticipate that being a problem for him.”

Sierra Leone weaved his way through traffic on the far turn and swung widest of all into the stretch, determinedly reeling in Just a Touch to prevail. The dark bay colt has now won three of four starts for owners Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Michael Smith, Derrick Westerberg, and Brook Smith, and he arguably has more to offer after still racing greenly in the Blue Grass, drifting in after striking the front.

Next stop: Kentucky Derby for SIERRA LEONE! 🌹

SIERRA LEONE takes the G1 Blue Grass S. at Keeneland! 🏆 @tyler_gaff pic.twitter.com/ai6eaHtBNM

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 6, 2024

“I loved everything about it,” Gaffalione said of his trip. “He didn’t break the sharpest, but it actually gave me time to get over and save some ground into the first turn. He took the dirt just fine. Down the backside he got into a great rhythm. From the five-eighths pole on, he was moving like a winner. I was able to save some ground into the second turn, pop him out, and he just has so much talent.”

Just a Touch ran commendably in his first stakes attempt, opening a clear lead in the stretch before being nailed late. The 3.31-1 third choice finished 3 3/4 length clear of Epic Ride, who held third most of the way at 51-1. Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Dornoch, who handed Sierra Leone his lone career setback when recoding a nose win in December’s Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, came next in fourth.

Mugatu, Top Connor, Seize the Grey, Be You, Lat Long, and Good Money completed the order.

Sierra Leone was purchased for $2.3 million as a yearling, and he hails from the Grade 1-winning Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love, a half-sister to Forever Darling, the dam of unbeaten UAE Derby (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby contender Forever Young.

Gaffalione is excited about Sierra Leone’s prospects in the Kentucky Derby.

“We haven’t even got close to the bottom of him yet,” the jockey said.