Blazing Early Fractions Pave Way To Late Glory In Arkansas For Sir Cherokee
By: John Gaver III

(Apr. 13, 2003) - The dyed-in-the-wool closer Sir Cherokee took advantage of a clean trip and hot early fractions to run down Eugene's Third Son in the final eighth of a mile to win the 67th running of the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (GII) by a widening 1 ¾ lengths on Saturday, Apr. 12 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

It was another 6 ½ lengths back to Christine's Outlaw in third. Region Of Merit, Crowned King, Comic Truth, Saint Liam, Aristocat, Defrere's Vixen, Man Among Men, Sell To Survive and Cat Genius completed the official order of finish.

Sir Cherokee, a bay son of Cherokee Run owned by the Domino Stud of Lexington, Inc., was taken in hand early by jockey Terry Thompson - who had a huge weekend in Hot Springs, as the rider also won the $200,000 Fantasy Stakes (GII) on Friday, Apr. 11 with Ruby's Reception - and trailed the field through rapid early fractions carved out by Cat Genius of :21 4/5 for the opening quarter-mile, :45 2/5 for the half-mile and six furlongs in a blazing 1:09 4/5 over an Oaklawn surface labeled "fast".

Sir Cherokee finally appeared on television monitors about the five-sixteenths pole, when Thompson had his charge in high-gear while wide in the six or seven path, well clear to the outside of a tightly-knit field.

Thompson guided Sir Cherokee through the second turn and the leveled off, he set sail for Eugene's Third Son, who had spurted clear to a 3 ½ length lead in the stretch drive. As Eugene's Third Son started to tire, Sir Cherokee swept by just inside the eighth-pole and drew away to a convincing win, covering nine furlongs in a quick 1:48 1/5.
Sent off as the third highest price in the field of 12, Sir Cherokee returned a whopping $113.20, $33.60 and $13.20 to his backers. With the $300,000 winner's share of the Arkansas Derby purse, Sir Cherokee bolstered his career earnings to $393,975

"Sir Cherokee was going so fast," said Thompson the day after the race. "all I could do was hope I wouldn't fall off. What a runner this guy is!"

The colt is trained by Michael Tomlinson, whose outfit is based at Trackside Trainer Center - the site of the old Louisville Downs harness racing facility, and was shipped back to the Louisville, Ky. facility by van on Sunday, Apr. 13.

"We won't make any changes in his training," said Tomlinson, "he'll do everything the same as he's done. He'll have his usual long morning gallops, and one comfortable work four or five days before the Derby. Then we'll load him in the gate with the rest of them, and see what happens.

"I know my horse can get a mile and a quarter, he has a lot of stay on the female side [of his pedigree]," Tomlinson continued. "And I know he likes the racetrack [at Churchill Downs], so I'm confident he'll give a good account of himself."

Patrick Byrne, who trains Eugene's Third Son, said he was leaning toward the Preakness (GI) with his charge, but is keeping his options open.

"We'll probably shoot straight for the Preakness, but we want to keep the possibility of running in the Derby open in case that race falls apart over the next three weeks," said Byrne. "We're stabled here [at Churchill Downs], so we'll wait and see."

The connections of all other Arkansas Derby also-rans - including favored Man Among Men, Region Of Merit and Aristocat - indicated that they would search for easier spots for their respective charges.

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