SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Despite his status as defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and reigning 3-year-old champion, Sierra Leone will enter the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic a little bit under the radar.  “It’s such a deep field and he hasn’t run that much this year, I understand,” Chad Brown, trainer of Sierra Leone, said. “I don’t take any offense to it. Going into the race I do believe he’s one of the main contenders in the race. He’s a horse that’s in good form. His last two races were very good, especially given his trouble in the last race.”  Sierra Leone’s last two races came at Saratoga, where he won the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 2 and finished second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31. In the latter race, Sierra Leone had to hurdle a fallen rider in Irad Ortiz Jr., who was unseated from Mindframe in the early stages of the race. Sierra Leone, some 18 lengths off the early pace, came flying to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Antiquarian.  “He was compromised early, he lost several lengths because of that and him getting back in the race and nearly winning provided him with the effort he needed as a prep from a fitness standpoint,” Brown said.  :: BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Brown has elected to keep Sierra Leone in Saratoga this fall. On Saturday he had his fifth workout since the Gold Cup, breezing a half-mile in 49.08 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, punctuated by a strong gallop-out. Sierra Leone, who worked on the inside of the maiden Duration, went his first quarter in 24.64 , his second quarter in 24.44. Sierra Leone galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.54, six furlongs in 1:14.28, and seven-eighths in 1:27.82.  “He’s been doing that every week, big, strong gallop-outs,” Brown said. “He’s doing it as good as a horse can do it.”  Sierra Leone is going to have to be as good as he’s ever been to become a repeat winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The field is coming up extremely deep with Fierceness and Forever Young, the second- and third-place finishers from last year’s Classic; Mindframe, who beat Sierra Leone in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster; Antiquarian, who beat him in the Jockey Club Gold Cup; the top 3-year-olds Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza; and the improving Nevada Beach. Sierra Leone had a foot abscess early in the year that forced him to miss the Saudi Cup in February. He made his 4-year-old debut in the New Orleans Classic in March, when he finished third behind Touchuponastar. Sierra Leone was beaten a length by Mindframe in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs before winning the Whitney, his first win at Saratoga.  “I like the fact he has a Grade 1 at Saratoga under his belt,” Brown said. “It’s important.”  In both the Whitney and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Sierra Leone had the stablemate Contrary Thinking in the race to help set an honest pace. Brown said Saturday that a decision had not yet been made regarding Contrary Thinking’s participation in the Breeders’ Cup.  “Not sure yet,” Brown said.  On Saturday, Contrary Thinking worked a half-mile in 49.47 over the Belmont Park training track.  Chancer McPatrick works for Dirt Mile  In addition to Sierra Leone, Brown is expected to pre-enter five other horses in Breeders’ Cup races, including Chancer McPatrick in the $1 million Dirt Mile.  On Saturday, at Saratoga, Chancer McPatrick worked a half-mile by himself in 49.22 , galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.01. Earlier in the fall, Chancer McPatrick was working with Sierra Leone. His last two works have been by himself.  “He seems to be a little happier by himself lately,” Brown said.  Chancer McPatrick at 2 won the Hopeful and Champagne - both Grade 1 stakes. He won the Curlin Stakes, a two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race in July, before finishing fourth in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, a seven-furlong race, in August.  “It’s a tough race, he’s going to need a good pace setup in that race, it’s a quick mile at Del Mar, but I love the way he’s coming into it,” Brown said. “The biggest positive about him is I’ve never seen him look better physically. He’s carrying the most weight he’s ever carried, his coat is shining, and he’s very happy right now.”  Brown said Jose Ortiz has been booked to ride Chancer McPatrick in the Dirt Mile. Irad Ortiz Jr., who had ridden him his last two starts, has the call on White Abarrio.  Village Voice, who won the Grade 3 Waya Stakes at Aqueduct in her lone start this year, will be pre-entered in the $2 million Filly and Mare Turf. She was scheduled to work over Saratoga’s Oklahoma turf course on Sunday.  Program Trading, second in the Coolmore Turf Mile, will be pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, Brown said. Redistricting, winner of the Grade 2 United Nations and runner-up to Rebel’s Romance in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and Hill Road will both be pre-entered in the $5 million Turf, Brown said.  On Saturday, at Belmont, Hill Road went a half-mile in 49.22 while Redistricting went a half-mile in 50.22.  * Scottish Lassie, the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks winner, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds over the Belmont Park training track Saturday morning, pulling away late from stakes winner Nelson Avenue. The Jorge Abreu-trained filly is pointing to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff.  :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.