'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) breezed a solo four furlongs Sunday in :49.73 over the Oklahoma training track for trainer Chad Brown in his final work before Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes. NYRA clockers noted an opening quarter-mile in :25.25 and a gallop out in 1:02.68, 1:14.93 and 1:28.92.
“He did super. He's in a nice rhythm,” said Brown. “He's been working solo on the training track – I'm liking it. He galloped out with good energy. That's just what I'm looking for six days out.”
Sierra Leone was third last out in the GI Belmont Stakes to Dornoch (Good Magic) who returned July 20 to win the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park.
“He's at a stage of his development where it was something to transition into,” Brown continued. “I'm very flexible in training them and observing where they are in their development. For right now, at this point of his campaign, it's working for him taking him out of company for a little bit. He's very fit and I'm just looking to bring him to the race healthy and focused.”
3rd place @BelmontStakes finisher SIERRA LEONE was spotted on the Oklahoma Training Track this morning!🏇 Next stop, G2 Jim Dandy? pic.twitter.com/pOTMDTiRCF
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) July 21, 2024
The GII Jim Dandy Stakes will serve as a prep for GI DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug. 24 at Saratoga.
Joining Sierra Leone in the Travers will be stablemate Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince) who won the listed Curlin Stakes July 19.
“I think he's earned his right,” Brown said. “If all the horses in this division stay healthy, it's shaping up to be a really strong edition of the Travers, so he's going to have to step up considerably but he's undefeated and he has good positional speed. I think his best races and his best numbers are ahead of him. With that said, if he moves forward, he could be in the mix.”
Ways and Means (Practical Joke), another Brown-trained 'TDN Rising Star', also got a prep in over the Oklahoma track for the GI Test Stakes Aug. 3.
“She's in a nice rhythm breezing by herself,” Brown said. “After that big win here – a confidence-building allowance race Belmont week – she's really where I need her to be fitness wise and now it's just some maintenance coming into the Test. She'll have one more work and that might not be a big field, but that will be a strong field and she'll really have to show her best stuff.”
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