2024 Belmont Stakes Contenders: SIERRA LEONE

Veering left also cost standout Tyler Gaffalione the mount. Replacing him is Flavien Prat, a brilliant tactician who rarely makes mistakes. Trainer Chad Brown said, “Tyler worked out a very good trip … and I thought his decisions were good. I think not winning bothered Tyler even more than it bothered me.”

But …

“I’m moving forward with the change (to Prat), and we’ll see how it goes.”

Because of the configuration of Saratoga Race Course, whose circumference is 1 1/8 miles, the Belmont Stakes will be run at 1¼ miles instead of its usual 1½. Last-to-first runners usually are at a disadvantage going 12 furlongs at Belmont Park, a 1½-mile oval, so the changes should help Sierra Leone.

Brown is upbeat that Sierra Leone gives him a good chance for his first Belmont victory. He breezed 5 furlongs in 1:02.64 with stablemate Domestic Product May 25 over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.

“I want to maintain where I’m at with Sierra Leone,” Brown said, “and I’m thrilled with how he’s moving.”

Betting advice: There should be enough pace to set up Sierra Leone’s big finish, and he belongs on all your tickets. Likely favorite is a serious win contender.

Post position: TBD

Odds: TBD

Jockey: Flavien Prat

Trainer: Chad Brown

Owners: Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith

Career record: 5-3-2-0

Career earnings: $1,918,000

Most recent race: Kentucky Derby, May 4 (2nd)

Top Equibase speed figure: 109

Pedigree: Gun Runner-Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Deep closer

Notes: Gun Runner, a Hall of Famer and the 2017 Horse of the Year, is among the world’s leading dirt sires. His son Early Voting won the 2022 Preakness for Brown, and Sierra Leone could be Gun Runner’s first Belmont champion … Brown has been leading trainer at Saratoga six times, including last year, when he tied with Linda Rice. He grew up in Mechanicville, N.Y., only 16 miles south of Saratoga Springs.