Sierra Leone wasn't quite good enough to beat the best of his fellow 3-year-olds in this year's Triple Crown races, but he found his top form Saturday just in time to defeat a sterling lineup from around the world in the $7 million Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

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.

Sierra Leone won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday, ending a tough run of recent losses, including the Kentucky Derby.