Derby works: Sierra Leone is 1 of 28 on tab, races next Saturday

In the last workout before his start inthe Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes  next weekend, Sierra Leone breezed a half-mile in Florida tolead the list of Kentucky Derby 2024 contenders who showed up on the Saturday worktab.

The runner-up in the Remsen Stakes (G2) on Dec. 2 wasclocked at 49.2 seconds at Payson Park. The 3-year-old son of Gun Runner has beenreliable with weekly workouts the past two months for trainer Chad Brown.

At best odds of 16-1, Sierra Leone was the co-third choice thisweek in Nevada futures to win Kentucky Derby 2024. Only Dornoch at 9-1 and Fiercenessat 13-1 were shorter than him.

A debut winner in November at Aqueduct, Sierra Leone drew post 4 in a field of 12 for the Risen Star next Saturday at 7:17 p.m. EST.

These were the 28 horses listed in the Las Vegas futures whobreezed Saturday:

SierraLeone (Gun Runner), 16-1 in Nevada futures for theKentucky Derby, worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Payson Park on Saturday morning. It was the10th fastest of 56 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days agogoing four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he placed second in theRemsen (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 2 fortrainer Chad Brown.

Timberlake (Into Mischief), 32-1 in Nevada futures forthe Kentucky Derby, a Grade 1 winner (2023 Champagne), worked five furlongs in59.4 seconds at Fair Grounds. It was the fastest of 45 works at the distance.His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. Inhis last start he placed fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile going 1 1/16miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 for trainer Brad Cox.

Catching Freedom (Constitution), 60-1 in Nevada futures forthe Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Fair Grounds. It was thesixth fastest of 45 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days agogoing five furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won the Smarty Jonesgoing 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Jan. 1 for trainer Brad Cox.

Nash (Medaglia d’Oro), 60-1 in Nevada futures forthe Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Fair Grounds. It was the12th fastest of 45 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days agogoing four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he placed second in theLecomte (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Jan. 20for trainer Brad Cox.

Bergen (Liam’s Map), 100-1 in Nevada futures forthe Kentucky Derby, worked four furlongs in 47.5 seconds at Belmont Park. Itwas the fourth fastest of 119 works at the distance. This was his first worksince his last race. In his last start he won the Jimmy Winkfield going sixfurlongs on the main track at Aqueduct on Jan. 27 for trainer Brad Cox.

Cardinale

Ethan Energy

Real Men Violin