Sierra Leone follows in the hoofprints of sire Gun Runner

The first time the Breeders’ Cup was held at Del Mar, Gun Runner won the 2017 Classic – one of four Grade 1 wins in a Horse of the Year campaign. This year, as the Breeders’ Cup returned to Del Mar, Sierra Leone, a son of recently minted Hall of Famer Gun Runner, made his own case for championship honors with a victory in the Classic.

Gun Runner, who stands at Three Chimneys Farm, appears poised to finish second to five-time reigning leading sire Into Mischief of Spendthrift Farm on North America’s general sires list by earnings. It would be the top placing thus far for the stallion, who has performed at an elite level ever since his emergence. Gun Runner set an earnings record for a North American freshman sire with his first crop in 2021, then finished sixth on the general earnings list in 2022, and third last year.

As of Sunday, Into Mischief was the sire of 223 winners from 444 starters this year for progeny earnings of $32,084,358. Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River, who has earned more than $7.1 million this season, is the top earner from his 31 stakes winners this year.

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Gun Runner is the sire of 118 winners this year from 239 starters, 46 percent fewer starters than Into Mischief. His progeny earnings stand at $20,346,320, with 13 stakes winners led by multiple Grade 1 winner Sierra Leone, who has earned more than $5.9 million this year. Gun Runner is more than $5 million clear of the next three sires on the general earnings list – Mineshaft, Justify, and Constitution.

Gun Runner was also represented on Breeders’ Cup weekend by Society, a Grade 1 winner this year who finished third in the Filly and Mare Sprint. His other top runners this season include Grade 1 winner Gun Pilot, who will join him at Three Chimneys for 2025, and Grade 1 winner Vahva. Both were also-rans on Breeders’ Cup weekend.

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