Kentucky Derby trail: Sierra Leone rallies to edge Track Phantom in Grade 2 Risen Star
Sierra Leone rallied down the center of the track and caught Track Phantom at the wire to win Saturday’s $400,000, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Sierra Leone gained 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby, virtually clinching a spot in the May 4 Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Sierra Leone covered the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:52.13 and paid $7.40 to win as the 5-2 favorite.
Track Phantom, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Joel Rosario, took the lead out of the gate and set the fractions of 24.32 seconds for the quarter-mile, 49.67 seconds for the half-mile and 1:14.74 for three-quarters.
But Gaffalione had the most horse off the turn, moving Sierra Leone toward the middle of the track and catching Track Phantom in the final strides to win by a half-length. Catching Freedom was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Brook Smith and Peter Brant, Sierra Leone was purchased for $2.3 million at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Of the 346 horses nominated to the Triple Crown, Sierra Leone is the highest-priced.
Sierra Leone improved to 2-1-0 in three career starts. He entered off a second-place finish behind Dornoch in the Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct.
Brown said Sierra Leone's final prep for the Kentucky Derby will come April 6 in the Blue Grass at Keeneland.
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Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @KentuckyDerby_CJ
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby prep races 2024: Sierra Leone wins Risen Star
