Three-year-old champion Sierra Leone climbed to third place in the latest NTRA Top Thoroughbred rankings following a win in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse on August 2nd. This victory marked Sierra Leone’s first win of the year. The four-year-old son of Gun Runner had previously finished second in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 28th. Owned by a partnership including Peter Blunt, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith, Sierra Leone is trained by Chad Brown. Brown mentioned that Sierra Leone might compete next in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on August 31.
For two weeks running, the top spots in the NTRA poll have been dominated by dual classic winners. Among them is Godolphin homebred, who claimed victories in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and other major races, guided by trainer Bill Mott. This horse is expected to race next in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on August 23. Holding second place in the poll is the four-year-old Constitution, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC. Constitution won the Stephen Foster, Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes, and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile this year under trainer Todd Pletcher.
New entrants in the top 10 include winners of the Grade 1 Fourstardave and Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes. Liam’s Map, owned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Rangone, Stephen Dunker, and Vicarage Stable, not only secured a Grade 1 win but also triumphed in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy in May. Liam’s Map is currently trained by Miguel Clement.
Vote counts also included horses like Highland Falls (24 votes), White Arario (20), She is Pretty (14), and many others. The weekly Top Thoroughbred voting ranks leading contenders for Horse of the Year based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point system.
This report was originally published by the Paulick Report on August 5, 2025.
Fan Take: Sierra Leone’s rise signals a fresh challenger shaking up the established order in top thoroughbred racing, sparking excitement for upcoming races. This dynamic competition boosts the sport’s appeal by highlighting emerging talent and fueling thrilling rivalries for fans worldwide.
