Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone returned to the workout tab Jan. 6 at Payson Park Training Center in Indiantown, Fla. with an easy three furlongs in :37 4/5 as he begins preparations for the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Feb. 22.

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“He went nice and smooth,” trainer Chad Brown said Monday morning. “He galloped out with a lot of energy and cooled out quick. We’re right back on track again and it looks like our first goal is to try and make the Saudi Cup.”

The 1 1/8-mile, one-turn test is a little under seven weeks away. Knowing there is no room for error to make the world’s richest horse race, Brown plans a weekly workout schedule to prepare the son of Gun Runner for his first start since winning the $7 million Classic at Del Mar Nov. 2.

Luckily for Brown, Sierra Leone maintained his fitness and health during his month-long freshening at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky. immediately following his Classic win.

“Even though we gave him a little bit of freshening, he didn’t seem to lose any fitness at all,” Brown said. “He’s settled back into his job well. I was very pleased with his work, actually pleasantly surprised on how fit the horse is. He did that just galloping around there. I was pretty impressed.”

In addition to his Classic victory, Sierra Leone won the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes during his 3-year-old campaign and placed in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, Belmont Stakes, and DraftKings Travers Stakes. He is a leading contender for Eclipse Award honors as champion 3-year-old male for owners Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith.