Sierra Leone Rolls Wins 100th Toyota Blue Grass on Record Day at Keeneland

By Amy Owens —-

Sierra Leone Rolls from Back of the Pack
to Win 100th Running of $1 Million Toyota Blue Grass
on Record Day at Keeneland

Single-day wagering, win/place/show and All Stakes Pick 5 wagering records set

LEXINGTON, KY (April 6, 2024) – Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Limited and Brook Smith’s Sierra Leone made a five-wide move at the top of the stretch and roared to the front before the sixteenth pole to post a 1½-length victory in the 100th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1).

The victory secured a spot in the starting gate for the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve to be run at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Meanwhile, several Keeneland wagering records fell on Toyota Blue Grass Day. All-sources handle for the 11-race card totaled $29,261,346, eclipsing the previous single-day wagering record of $28,137,728 set in 2022. Single-race win/place/show wagering of $2,576,663 in the Toyota Blue Grass shattered the 2019 record of $2,068,046. The All Stakes Pick 5 ending with the Toyota Blue Grass handled $1,696,981, breaking the 2022 record of $1,539,098.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Sierra Leone completed the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:50.08. It is the third victory in the race for Brown, who won with Good Magic in 2018 and Zandon in 2022.

With the victory, Sierra Leone earned 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby and enough to earn a spot in the race that is limited to the top 20 point earners and invitees on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Sierra Leone has 155 points.

Also locking up a spot by picking up 50 points for second was Just a Touch to give him 75 points.

Other horses earning points from the Toyota Blue Grass were Epic Ride with 25 for third, Dornoch with 15 for fourth and Mugatu with 10 for fifth. Only Dornoch (75 points) of those three is safely in the top 20.

Sierra Leone delayed the start of the race by being reluctant to load. Once the race began, he dropped back to the rear of the field.

Up front, Top Conor raced off to an uncontested lead with Just a Touch and Epic in closest pursuit through fractions of :23.15, :46.48 and 1:10.83. On the far turn, Sierra Leone began to pick off horses and was running in the clear when the field hit the top of the stretch.

At that point, Top Conor was in retreat as Just a Touch took over with Epic Ride racing second. The top two stayed that way to midstretch but Sierra Leone had all the momentum and surged past Just a Touch before the 16th pole and coasted to victory.

Sierra Leone is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love. Winner of the Risen Star (G2) in his most recent start, Sierra Leone owns a record of 4-3-1-0 with earnings of $918,000 that includes Saturday’s $581,250 check.

Sent off as the favorite in the field 10, Sierra Leone returned $5.32, $3.28 and $3.06. Just a Touch, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $4.24 and $3.74 and finished 3¾ lengths in front of Epic Ride, who paid $9.12 to show under Adam Beschizza.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Dornoch, who was followed in order by Mugatu, Top Conor, Seize the Grey, Be You, Lat Long and Good Money.

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Since its first race meet more than 85 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.

For more information contact Amy Gregory at 859 361-3490 or Amy Owens at 859 421-2566