Sierra Leone delivered a striking performance at Saratoga Race Course on August 2, capturing the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes in a commanding finish to earn a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Under star jockey Flavien Prat and trained by Chad Brown, the four-year-old colt came from well back in the field to overtake Highland Falls and win by a length, drawing applause from a crowd of over 42,000..

The Whitney Stakes, a $1 million race for horses four years old and up, is run over 1 1/8 miles on dirt. In this 98th edition, Sierra Leone clocked 1:48.92 to complete the distance with authority. His late-closing style was on full display as he ranged widest around the final turn before surging past the pacesetter Fierceness and fellow rival Highland Falls in mid-stretch.

Highland Falls held on for second, while Disarm rallied late for third. White Abarrio, last year’s Whitney winner and a past Breeders’ Cup champion, crossed in fourth. The favorite Fierceness faded to fifth despite pressing the early pace.

This victory gave trainer Chad Brown his first Whitney Stakes win at Saratoga after years of dominating training titles at the Spa. Sierra Leone had previously achieved major victories including the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024 and added the Whitney to his resume with poise and precision.

By winning this key “Win and You’re In” event, Sierra Leone secured an automatic, fully paid berth in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. His early odds remain strong for another attempt at Classic glory.

The Whitney Day undercard offered a full slate of stakes action. Deterministic captured the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes, Kilwin won the Grade 1 Test Stakes, World Beater took the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational, and Ewing triumphed in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

Stepping into his first Whitney win with confidence and poise, Sierra Leone emerged not only as the standout of the day but as a contender to watch heading into the fall championship. With Brown finally clearing a career milestone and Sierra Leone earning his return ticket to the Classic, racing fans have a new favorite to follow as the season continues.