No bumping, no jostling, no points, no drawback for Sierra Leone.
Seizing the lead from a sport Highland Falls within the stretch together with his patented closing type, Sierra Leone gained the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) in entrance of packed home at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, with favourite Fierceness fading and ending fifth.
After so many runner-up finishes and points with operating a straight path, Sierra Leone ($5.90 on a $2 win wager) was an image of perfection within the Whitney, stamping himself because the early favourite for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
The victory, his first as a 4-year-old after operating third within the New Orleans Traditional (G2) and second within the Stephen Foster (G1), clinched an all-fees paid berth into the Traditional and an opportunity to grow to be simply the second horse to win two Classics (Tiznow gained in 2000 and 2001).
The 1 1/8-mile Whitney unfolded as anticipated with two longshots, Mama’s Gold (53-1) and Opposite Considering (70-1) main earlier than the sector of 9 moved into the far flip. And Sierra Leone, a deep nearer, was final of 9 after three-quarters of a mile however in a transparent place.
Then it was Fierceness, who defeated Sierra Leone within the 2024 Jim Dandy (G2) and the Travers (G1) on the Spa however completed second to him within the Traditional, who took the lead on the quarter-pole. It was short-lived, although, as Highland Falls and Sierra Leone moved up in tandem in the course of the observe. Fierceness started to drop again, 2023 BC Traditional winner White Abarrio moved up, however Sierra Leone prevailed by one size.
Highland Falls was second, adopted by Disarm, White Abarrio, Fierceness, Submit Time, Skippylongstocking, Mama’s Gold and Opposite Considering. Mindframe was scratched.
Successful jockey Flavien Prat mentioned: “He broke forwardly which was good. I used to be capable of keep involved with the sector. I used to be touring good down the bottom. I didn’t know if I had sufficient horse across the far flip however as quickly as I requested him to get going, he actually responded properly.”
SIERRA LEONE wins the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes!
Final yr’s @BreedersCup Traditional champ books his return with a “Win and You’re In” rating underneath Flavien Prat for coach Chad Brown! pic.twitter.com/Rh8BnPLdD7
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 2, 2025
Sure, he did. Although he was the 3-year-old champion, Sierra Leone had a troublesome time operating straight. He ran second within the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) after a little bit of jostling within the stretch with Perpetually Younger and has 4 runner-up finishes. Successful the Whitney, although, places him on the prime of the heap and it positive appears to be like like he’s “greater, stronger, and extra mentally centered,’’ as NYRA analyst Richard Migliore mentioned on the FOX telecast of the race.
Sierra Leone, a son of Gun Runner, improved to 12-5-4-3 with earnings of greater than $6.8 million. He’s run properly on the Spa – third within the Belmont Stakes (G1), second within the Jim Dandy and third within the Travers.
“He’s all the time been operating within the highest degree of races at Saratoga. He ran within the Travers, Belmont Stakes and such. The extra I checked out his numbers, I wasn’t bought that he doesn’t actually just like the observe, I simply assume he hadn’t gained and a few of his quickest numbers as a 3-year-old had been really at Saratoga—he simply didn’t get it carried out,’’ profitable coach Chad Brown mentioned. “As you noticed within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional and immediately, he’s a full-rounded, absolutely polished, fine-tuned, high-level racehorse proper now.”
A subsequent begin for Sierra Leone might come within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1) on the Spa on Aug. 31.
Successful time for was 1:48.92.
Saratoga undercard outcomes
In different graded stakes races on the Whitney undercard: Deterministic ($11.20) gained the Fourstardave Stakes (G1), World Beater ($24.40) gained the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1), Kilwin ($14.40) gained the Take a look at Stakes (G1), and Ewing ($5.40) gained the Saratoga Particular Stakes (G2).
Fourstardave Outcomes: Deterministic rewards bettors, $11.20 to win
Rounding the far flip, Deterministic ($11.20) kicked into gear underneath Kendrick Carmouche and cruised to a 1 ¼-length victory over Mind within the $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes.
Sitting comfortably behind the pacesetter My Boy Prince till requested to show up the velocity, the 4-year-old Liam’s Map colt made it two Grade 1 wins in a row for coach Miguel Clement. Deterministic gained the 1 1/8-mile Manhattan Stakes by a head at Saratoga on June 8.
Deterministic earns berth within the Breeders’ Cup Mile
The victory within the 1-mile Fourstardave on the turf earned Deterministic an all-fees paid entry to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
When the sector of 10 left the gate, 1.80-1 favourite Johannes was bumped by My Boy Prince and fell again within the pack. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Johannes bought caught up between horses and needed to test (pull again) a number of instances earlier than the primary flip. He was by no means a think about his first begin since final December.
Following the latest dying of his father Christophe Clement, Miguel took over because the secure’s full-time coach.
“He seemed nice. He has tactical velocity so you should utilize it. He was shifting very properly. I feel Kendrick was simply ready to make his transfer,’’ Clement mentioned. “When he went for it, he went large. The horse delivered. He’s a top-class horse. He is gained on a number of surfaces over a variety of distances. He makes us look good as a result of he’s top-class.”
Mind, the runner-up within the Poker Stakes (G3) and the Kelso Stakes (G3) in his earlier two begins, was second as soon as once more, adopted by Win for the Cash, My Boy Prince, Assume Massive, Cugino, Lagynos, Spirit of St Louis, Johannes and Neat.
Deterministic has now earned practically $2 million and improved his document to 13-7-3-1 for homeowners St. Elias Secure, Ken Langone, Steve Duncker and Vicarage Secure.
Saratoga Derby Outcomes, Payoffs: World Beater wins at $24.40
It could not rank as a prime upset in Saratoga lore, however World Beater pulled off an 11-1 shock within the $750,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1), topping 28-1 Juwelier with 5-2 second betting alternative Take a look at Rating third, and 2-1 favourite Hotazhell fourth.
With jockey Junior Alvarado a last-minute substitute for Jaime Torres (who had flight points in Atlanta and couldn’t make the race), World Beater ran down pacesetter Juwelier within the stretch and gained by a half-length.
The victory was the primary Grade 1 for coach Riley Mott, the son of Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott.
“That is Saratoga. No different rationalization must be mentioned. An enormous day, a lot of the large gamers are right here,’’ Riley Mott mentioned of the milestone win. “The Bernhards, Pin Oak Stud, they’ve supported me from day one. I am actually pleased to be right here.”
Successful time for the 1 3/16 miles on the turf was 1:52.82. With Juwelier returning $28 to put, the $2 exacta of 9-2 returned a nifty $505.
“Stunning journey from the 9 (submit). I bought to avoid wasting floor coming into the primary flip and fully reduce the nook within the second flip. Once I requested my horse for his greatest, he cut up horses, and he was unbelievable immediately,’’ Alvarado mentioned.
Closing Gambit was fifth, adopted by New Century, Capitol Hill, Tiberius Thunder and Tiztastic.
Take a look at Stakes Outcomes, Payoffs: Kilwin passes Take a look at and returns $14.40
Coach Rusty Arnold is on a Saratoga roll as Kilwin ($14.40), his second-stringer behind stablemate and favourite Echo Sound, recovered from a stumble at the beginning and gained the $500,000 Take a look at Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies.
“She was shifting very properly, and I believed I had a shot turning for residence,’’ profitable rider Jose Ortiz mentioned. “Actually, I used to be following the correct horse, and I knew Junior [Alvarado, on Ragtime] was touring actually properly.
“I reduce the nook, and I used to be following him, then I got here out and she or he gave me that further kick that I wanted contained in the eighth pole.”
Successful time for the 7 furlongs was 1:23.10. Kilwin gained by a neck over Ragtime, adopted by Magnificence Reigns, Look Ahead, Money Name, Echo Sound, Artisma and Me and Molly McGee.
Arnold, who has a small secure on the Spa, however his horses are faring properly, wasn’t so positive of issues.
“Effectively, I believed this filly was out of the race when she stumbled on the gate,’’ Arnold mentioned. “Even Jose mentioned, ‘I form of picked her up, and she or he was operating properly sufficient, possibly I can get her Grade 1 positioned and get third as a result of she stumbled so badly.’ It wasn’t like the best way you drew it up, nevertheless it went properly.”
Saratoga Particular Outcomes, Payoffs: Ewing nets first stakes win
What began out earlier within the week as a six-horse area for the $200,000 Saratoga Particular (G2), wound up as a match race between Ewing and Obliteration, with Ewing holding off the 2-5 favourite by a size.
Ewing, ridden by Jose Ortiz, bought off to a sluggish begin however rushed as much as take the lead from Obliteration after 1 / 4 mile. A grey son of Knicks Go, Ewing ($5.40) for a $ win wager) led the remainder of the best way within the area of 4 to maneuver to 2-0.
Camigol was third, 12 lengths behind the runner-up, and Thunder Chuck was one other three lengths again in fourth.
Comport was scratched and Dazzle d’Oro was injured throughout coaching earlier within the week and was humanely euthanized.
Successful time for the 6 ½ furlongs over a quick observe was 1:18.03.
Ewing gained by 12 lengths in his profession debut on the Spa on July 5 for coach Mark Casse.
As for the race, Ortiz mentioned: “He [Obliteration’s rider Flavien Prat] rode his plan — in all probability his plan was to have me inside him in plain sight each step of the best way. “I felt like I broke a step sluggish and my horse took the lead by himself, so I used to be proud of that. From the three-eighths pole to the wire I knew it was a match race, so I let my horse go, I didn’t watch for him.”
