Sierra Leone Wins 98th Whitney Stakes at Saratoga

Sierra Leone, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, won the 98th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga with a late surge, earning $550,000 and a guaranteed spot in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic. The win marked Brown's first Whitney Stakes victory at his hometown track. Sierra Leone overtook Highland Falls in the stretch, while favorite Fierceness faded to fifth after leading into the final turn. The colt completed the 1⅛-mile race in 1:48.92 on a fast track. This victory adds to Sierra Leone’s major wins, including the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Blue Grass Stakes. His consistent performances solidify his reputation as one of the top older dirt horses in the U.S.