Sierra Leone won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday at Del Mar, ending a frustrating run of recent losses, including the Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Sierra Leone ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.78. Sent off as the 6-1 fourth choice, the 3-year-old colt paid $15.80, $5.60 and $3.60 in his first race after a two-month layoff.

Sierra Leone lost by a nose to Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby and then finished third in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. That’s where he was second in the Jim Dandy and third in the Travers.

Chad Brown has 19 Cup wins, leaving him one short of career leading trainers Aidan O’Brien, who won two races Friday, and D. Wayne Lukas.

Fierceness, the 5-2 favorite, returned $4.40 and $3.20. Forever Young of Japan was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.60 to show. Newgate, trained by Bob Baffert, was fourth in the full field of 14.

Prat made back-to-back trips to the winner’s circle, taking the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf aboard Moira for his 50th graded stakes win of the year.

In the $2 million Distaff, Thorpedo Anna won by 2 1/2 lengths, helping trainer Ken McPeek snap an 0-for-37 skid in the Breeders’ Cup.

She ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.10 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. Sent off as the 2-5 favorite, she paid $2.80 — the second-shortest win payout in Breeders’ Cup history.

In the $5 million Turf, 9-5 favorite Rebel’s Romance held off late-closing 22-1 shot Rousham Park to win by a neck.

MLB

Cole opts out but Yanks can still keep him >> Gerrit Cole exercised his opt out from his New York Yankees contract, giving the team two days to void the opt out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029.

Three days after the Yankees lost the World Series, New York said it declined first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million option in favor of a $6 million buyout.

• Cody Bellinger picked up his $27.5 million option with the Cubs. He batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year.

• Former Giants and A’s left-hander Sean Manaea declined his $13.5 million option for 2025 with the New York Mets to become a free agent for the third consecutive offseason. Manaea went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts, striking out 184 and walking 63 in 181 2/3 innings.

• Left-hander Jordan Montgomery exercised his $22.5 million option with the Diamondbacks, who exercised options to retain third baseman Eugenio Suárez and right-hander Merrill Kelly. Ex-Giant Joc Pederson declined his mutual option for $14 million, will get a $3 million buyout and becomes a free agent.

NHL

Panthers top Stars for sweep in Finland >> AJ Greer scored his first goal for Florida early in the third period, Aleksander Barkov and Niko Mikkola each had assists in their homeland and the Panthers beat the Dallas Stars 4-2 to finish a two-game sweep in Finland.

Bruins 3, Flyers 0 >> Joonas Korpisalo made 20 saves for his first shutout of the season and fifth of his career to lead Boston to a victory in Philadelphia.

Blackhawks 4, Kings 3 (SO) >> Tyler Bertuzzi scored with 31 seconds remaining in the third period to help Chicago win a shootout in L.A.

Figure skating

Glenn wins Grand Prix title >> American Amber Glenn overcame a fall to win a maiden Grand Prix figure skating title at the Grand Prix de France in Angers.

Glenn posted the day’s third-best score in the free skate but it was enough to win overall, ahead of Wakaba Higuchi and Rion Sumiyoshi.

WNBA

Sky hire Marsh as head coach >> Tyler Marsh, a Las Vegas Aces assisant, has been hired as coach of the Chicago Sky, taking over a team that features two of the WNBA’s most promising young players in Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

Marsh replaces Teresa Weatherspoon, who was fired after one year in charge. Chicago finished 13-27 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.