The sorting-out process for the best 3-year-olds begins in earnest Saturday with the Spectacular Bid (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park, and trainer Mark Hennig will have decisions to make with Cherokee Spook and Notorious Rogue over the next week.Cherokee Spook is the likely starter in the six-furlong race since his breeding seems best geared to sprints. The son of Cherokee Run is a full brother to 2001 Hutcheson Stakes winner Yonaguska."He's never been around two turns and looks inclined to be a sprinter because of his breeding," said Hennig. "Most of the other 3-year-olds are already running longer or are like Notorious Rogue, who we think will eventually stretch out for us."
Cherokee Spook has raced four times with his maiden-breaking win coming Nov. 9 at Aqueduct. The longest distance he has traveled came in that race at seven furlongs.Notorious Rogue has been off since finishing fifth in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park Oct. 4. He shows only two workouts during his layoff, including a bullet three-furlong move of :35 on Dec. 5.