Sierra Leone stalked Fierceness and Forever Young in the stretch, then blazed by them to snatch the biggest race of them all from their grasp. Here's how he did it.

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), a painful second in the GI Kentucky Derby and a frustrating, beaten favorite in three subsequent efforts at Saratoga this summer, emulated his leading young sire with a victory on the biggest stage of them all in Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

A look at how some of the Classic (G1) runners fared, including favorite and runner-up Fierceness, the day after the event at Del Mar, and possible plans for the future

Sierra Leone has won the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic with a time of 2:00.78. After narrowly missing the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, Sierra Leone got the job done at Del Mar in San Diego, California.

Sierra Leone had a reputation as a talented horse that never seemed to win. In his last four races he finished second twice and third twice. All that changed on Saturday when he charged to the front at the top of the stretch and won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at the Del Mar Turf Club.

Although Peter Brant, one of the owners of Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone, expressed his desire during a post-race news conference to see him run next year at age 4, the owners are also considering the alternative of standing him at stud in 2025.

Japan's Forever Young (4-1) was third in the year-end championships, which were held at the scenic coastal track in San Diego Sierra Leone came from behind to win the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday,

Sierra Leone won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday at Del Mar, ending a frustrating run of recent losses, including the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.

Sierra Leone, after a season of disappointments, made good on his promise with a mild upset win in Saturday's $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic, leaving year-end honors up in the air.