Photo:

Rich Steele / Eclipse Sportswire

Sierra Leone joined the top 10 of the world’s best racehorse rankings after his win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The 3-year-old colt trained by Chad Brown is in a three-way tie for fourth place. The Classic was his third graded win of the year, with other victories in the Risen Star (G2) and the Blue Grass (G1). He has finished in the money in all nine of his career starts, including a second in the Kentucky Derby.

The only other U.S.-based horse in the top 10 is Fierceness, who is tied for eighth after finishing second in the Classic. That effort came after wins in the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1).

Also tied for eighth is Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance. City of Troy, winner of three straight Group 1 races before finishing eighth in the Classic in his first dirt start, is second in the rankings.

Retaining the no. 1 spot was Laurel River, who hasn’t raced since winning the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March.

The rankings are compiled by the world’s best racehorse rankings committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. The next edition is the year-end 2024 rankings, which will be released in January.