Gun Runner had a pair of Eclipse Award finalists when the list was officially released on Jan. 5, with Sierra Leone in the 3-year-old Male category and Society in the Female Sprinter category.
The awards will be announced at the ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 23, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Sierra Leone is almost certain to win after an excellent 2024 that culminated with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), his first start against older horses. He also won the Blue Grass S. (G1) and Risen Star S. (G2), was beaten just a nose in the Kentucky Derby (G1), also finished second in the Jim Dandy S. (G2), and had thirds in both the Travers S. (G1) and Belmont S. (G1).
Sierra Leone finished the year with earnings of $5,911,250 for owners Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg.
Trained by Chad Brown, Sierra Leone recorded his first timed workout since the Breeders’ Cup on Jan. 6 in south Florida as he prepares for his 4-year-old campaign.
Society’s highlight race of 2024 was her victory in the Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga, a race she won by 3 ¼-lengths. Prior to that race, her first outing of the year was a close third in the June 22 Chicago S. (G3). She finished the year with a half-length loss in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), which pushed the then 5-year-old over $2 million in career earnings.
Society, who has four graded wins to her credit, is owned by her breeder Peter Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC.
Sierra Leone and Society were two of Gun Runner’s four Grade 1 winners in 2024. With 16 stakes winners and $22,494,262 in progeny earnings, Gun Runner finished second on the 2024 General Sire list.
