Sir Cherokee takes Churchill opening
day feature
Domino Stud’s homebred SIR CHEROKEE (Cherokee Run) returned to
the track in a big way with a 5 1/4-length victory in the
$165,300 Ack Ack H. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The opening day
feature, run at the unusual 7 1/2-furlong distance, was taken by
the dead-closing chestnut as he finalized a last-to-first move
entering the stretch.
Content to trail the field, Sir Cherokee ran sixth of six
while Cappuchino (Capote) led through the opening quarter and
half, setting fractions of :22 4/5 and :45 2/5, respectively.
Nearing the stretch, jockey Calvin Borel edged his mount closer,
just to the outside of the leader as heavy 3-5 favorite Fire Slam
(Grand Slam) and Pat Day made their move. The leader at the top
of the stretch by 1 1/2-lengths after six furlongs in 1:10 1/5,
Sir Cherokee then drove away under light urging to stop the clock
in 1:29 2/5 for the fast track event.
The four-year-old Michael Tomlinson trainee returned $14.80,
$3.80, and $3.60 at 6-1 while Fire Slam held second, paying $2.60
and $2.20 and completing the $32 exacta. Slate Run (Hennessy)
came next, giving back $3.40 at 12-1 and finishing a $278.20
trifecta. Private Horde (Brunswick) was just a neck behind in
fourth, rounding out the 2-5-4-1 superfecta worth $525 ($1).
Sterling Gold (Mutakddim) and Cappuchino crossed the wire next.
Battle Won (Honour and Glory) was scratched from the race.
Bred in the Bluegrass State by Domino Stud, Sir Cherokee is
out of the unraced mare Last Tycoon (Ire) (Last Tycoon [Ire]). He
counts himself as a half-brother to Grade 3-placed Lady Linda
(Torrential). This is the first start in more than four months
for the 2003 Arkansas Derby (G2) winner, who improves his career mark to
18-6-3-2 with earnings of $628,296.