Last year's Champion 3-year-old male and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) will return to Fair Grounds to make his 4-year-old bow in the 100th running of the GII New Orleans Classic on Saturday.
Tabbed as the 7-5 morning line favorite, Sierra Leone will face nine other opponents including the highly-regarded winner of the GIII Mineshaft Stakes at Fair Grounds Feb. 15, Hall of Fame (Gun Runner).
As reported by TDN's Senior Contributing Editor Alan Carasso, Sierra Leone's trainer Chad Brown had made plans for the colt to make his 4-year-old debut in the G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh back Feb. 22. However, an abscess on the champion's coronet band forced the trainer to cancel a key workout. The GII Oaklawn Handicap was a potential target, but the pivot to New Orleans–where the colt won the GII Risen Star Stakes just over a year ago–materialized as the latest move.
In the New Orleans Classic, the $2.3-million topper from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale will once again be guided by fellow Eclipse winner Flavien Prat and will break from post seven.
Never out of the money in eight graded stakes tries and with earnings in excess of $6 million, Sierra Leone is co-owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith. During his stellar 3-year-old season, the colt took home the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes ahead of his second place run in GI Kentucky Derby.
Sierra Leone's top accomplishment on his way to being named last year's Eclipse champion came when the dark bay won the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.
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