November 3, 2024
SAN DIEGO — By Matthew Lomon
Big Game Baller
All it took for Sierra Leone to end a four-race winless streak was a matchup with 13 of the world’s greatest dirt horses in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
While not for a lack of trying (0-2-2 during the drought), Sierra Leone entered Breeders’ Cup weekend’s marquee event with industry pundits wondering if he could get it done on the big stage.
As it turns out, the 3-year-old colt is more than capable of shining under the brightest of lights.
Under the steady hand of veteran rider Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone took command of the 1 ¼-mile contest down the stretch and settled atop the leaderboard for the 1 ½-length score.
At 6-1, the board’s fourth choice, Sierra Leone paid a cool $15.80 for the momentous victory.
Don’t Judge a Book…
It didn’t appear that More Than Looks was in position to take the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), but as the 4-year-old colt might tell you, looks can be deceiving.
Leaving from post six, More Than Looks and rider Jose Ortiz sat at or very near the back of the 10-horse field for most of the 1-mile affair.
Aided by the element of surprise, the pair burst out of nowhere in the final stages to steal the coveted contest by three-quarters of a length.
The career-changing triumph that pushed More Than Looks lifetime line to 5-3-1 through 11 starts, paid $15.80.
Worth the Wait
Rebel’s Romance (IRE) ended up on the right side of a neck’s difference to make history as the first non-consecutive two-time winner of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T).
Two years after claiming the Turf by 2 ¼-lengths, Rebel’s Romance’s second endeavour in the 1 ½-mile event was more of a nail-biter, but the 6-year-old gelding prevailed, nonetheless.
It’s been a phenomenal run for the Charles Appleby charge, who across 22 lifetime starts (15-0-1 record) has generated more than $11.7 million in purse earnings.
For stamping his name in the record books, and making good on his 9-5 closing line status, Rebel’s Romance paid $5.80.
What’s the Saying?
The third time really was the charm for Moira, who after two fruitless efforts in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), finally broke through this Saturday at Del Mar.
To say it was a long time coming for the highly accomplished mare is nothing short of an understatement.
The multiple graded stakes winner had done just about everything before tracking down the elusive Filly & Mare title, amassing a 6-6-2 line through 16 starts along the way (currently 17: 7-6-2).
Now chalked full of validation and vindication, Moira’s star continues to burn bright.
The Kevin Attard trainee paid $13.60 for the win.
The Best Around
Thorpedo Anna is inevitable.
The dynamic 3-year-old filly cemented her position at the top of her class with a dominant gate-to-wire victory in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
Working with rider Brian Hernandez Jr., Thorpedo Anna confidently shot out to an early half-length lead and watched it balloon to 2 ½-lengths by the time it was all said and done.
Sporting a near perfect 10: 8-2-0 line across her first two professional seasons, Thorpedo Anna has been a marvel for trainer Kenneth McPeek and bettors, alike.
Her latest triumph paid a modest $2.80.