Cherokee's Boy Romps in Deputed Testamony

(from track report)
ZWP Stable's Cherokee's Boy jumped on the Triple Crown trail by trouncing a small field of Maryland-bred rivals in the $75,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes this afternoon at Laurel Park.

Sent to the post as the 1-2 choice under apprentice Ryan Fogelsonger, Cherokee's Boy tracked pacesetter Brush Ahead through easy opening fractions before collaring that one around the far turn and blowing on by.

The bay son of Citidancer completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:46.35, 7 1/2 lengths ahead of a late closing Foufa's Warrior. Brush Ahead was third.

"He's the type of horse who will pick it up every step of the way, Fogelsonger said,. "He was going easily today and he let me stay nice and close. I hit him once or twice and he just shot away. I honestly didn't think he would open up like that and win by that much."

Gary Capuano trains Cherokee's Boy, who has four added-money victories since mid-September. The Bowie-based conditioner said, "He's a really nice horse, with a little bit of class over these horses. We thought the two (Brush Ahead) would be the horse to beat and we were happy to get by him."

"We did what we wanted to do even though I didn't realize we were going that slowly," said Ramon Dominguez, who rode Brush Ahead to fractions of 25 1/5 and 49 2/5 seconds. "When I asked him to go he responded, but we were no match for the winner."

Cherokee's Boy is following the same campaign as Magic Weisner, who won the Goss Stryker and Deputed Testamony a year ago. He exploded onto the national scene with runner-up finishes in the Preakness Stakes and Travers Stakes, a gallant fourth in the Belmont Stakes (all gr. I) and a win in the Ohio Derby (gr. II).

Younger Hadry gets Win In First Start

Five days after his father lost a battle with cancer, Charles J. Hadry saddled three horses on Saturday, winning his first career race as trainer of record when Brummy won the third on the card.

"The last month has been really tough and I thank God that my dad didn't suffer too much," said Hadry, 35. " It was back to work just like my father would have wanted and we started off in the best possible way."

The elder Hadry trained Private Terms, the favorite in the 1988 Kentucky Derby, and Finder's Choice, who held track records at both Pimlico and Laurel. Charles H. Hadry saddled 993 winners for purses of exceeding $17 million.

(Chart, Equibase)