Kemo Sabe: Cherokee Artist Breaks Onto Stakes Scene

Cherokee Artist had no problem continuing the hot streak Herringswell finished Saratoga with when the 4-year-old took the Presque Isle Mile in Erie, PA on Sunday night.

Sent off at as the third choice, Jeremy Rose settled the Cherokee Run colt third through the first 1/2 mile. Then the Mack Robinson homebred decided to carry the jockey through an eye-catching move around the far turn that he was able to sustain to the wire in the $250,000 stakes.

Cherokee Artist came out of a near-miss in Presque Isle's July 26 $100,000 Leeward Stakes. After that he was freshened up for seven weeks and came back with his a career-best performance on Sunday night.

After the race, Graham mentioned the November 7 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile over Santa Anita's synthetic main track as the main target for the bay colt.

The Summer Of The Bull

On the morning of August 8, the Saratoga backstretch's buzz surrounded the 8-year-old Commentator's chances for a third Whitney title. The son of Distorted Humor merited the attention as over the years, he has stamped Saratoga as one of his favorites.

Little attention was being payed to his rivals in that day's Whitney. Among them were, Macho Again, Smooth Air, Asiatic Boy, Dry Martini, Tizway and Bullsbay.

Come post time, the fan-favorite Commentator and Smooth Air were the co-favorites, a tad over 2-1 a piece. Macho Again and Dry Martini followed them at 3-1. Tizway was 10-1, and Bullsbay was a field-high 18-1.

As the seven older horses broke in order, Commentator dictated a 46.1 half-mile as Tizway chased a length off that pace. Smooth Air sat just off Tizway as there was a long way back to Bullsbay under a confident Jeremy Rose. Dry Martini followed Bullsbay as Macho Again, like usual planned to do his running in the stretch.

After 6-furlongs, Tizway had decided that was it for him, Smooth Air soon after threw in the towel. That left the two-time Whitney winner alone on the lead. Then Bullsbay decided he wanted to keep the Nick Zito trainee a two-time winner. Bullsbay began to roll with a move that could not haven be kept up for the remainder of the race. Could it? Just after the quarter-pole, the strapping son of Tiznow collared the 8-year-old. They were at even stride for only that long. The longest shot on the board led by 2-lengths passing the eighth pole as Macho Again passed a tired Commentator for second. Bullsbay strutted under the line a winner in the Grade I $750,000 Whitney Handicap.

Written off in part due to a mediocre polytrack effort last out at Hollywood Park, Bullsbay rewarded backers with a $39.60 win profit on a $2 bet. On August 8, the public had been introduced to who the barn-employees call 'The Bull' or 'Bully' rather than Bullsbay. This was The Bull's day.

Just 28 days later, The Woodward stakes was to be run on that same Saratoga oval, at that same Whitney distance of 1 1/8 miles. The crown in the older-male division had been passed around like a baton throughout the spring and summer so why not take a stab. A win would put him at the top of a few well sought-after lists.

Then the bomb was dropped. Sensational 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra was to run. It was almost like the competitive and hard-trying 5-year-old horse knew she was going. He was ready to take her on. In his own way, Bullsbay told Graham, and those at Fair Hill that he wanted a crack at her. He was ready to go, just 4-weeks after a career best performance.

Once the dark bay gave his connections the green-light, it was on.

September 5 rolled around and again, the now-Whitney champion was being ignored. That does not seem to phase him. His mind was made up already, he was going to run his race- as hard as he could.

As #2, Bullsbay was led out to the historic racetrack, the cheers were loud and present, although the large-majority of them were for #3, Preakness and Haskell winner, Rachel Alexandra. Jockey Jeremy Rose set the record straight as he whispered in the muscular 5-year-old's ear, "They're cheering for you."

As Bullsbay was transferred to the pony-person, it was again up to him. Like sending your son onto the school bus-you're nervous, he's not. 31,000 fans rocked the Saratoga grandstand as Bullsbay had made it to the show. Everyone who cared a lick about racing was watching. Everyone who was a fan, was there.

As they broke the betting favorite, and crowd favorite, Rachel Alexandra hurried through a first quarter mile in 22.4 and a half in 46.4. The super-filly made it clear early, if she was going to win, she was going to run fast for 9-furlongs. She laughed at Da' Tara, and shrugged off Past The Point like he was a mosquito on the far-turn. Then came The Bull. Bullsbay collared her, as the filly dug in, never losing an inch Bullsbay was all out. The filly had some in reserve. She went to the well and found gold, more run. Bullsbay, not gaining or losing an inch was soon matched by Macho Again and they chased the winner together. Macho Again, who had again saved it all for the end squeaked passed Bullsbay for second as the Whitney winner held even for third, well ahead of the rest.

The media, the horsemen, the fans. They're calling Rachel Alexandra the best. She might be. She's a freak, that's well documented. Bullsbay, coming off a career effort, arguably matched his performance just 28 days later. Nobody can take anything away from the newest Grade I champion in the Herringswell barn.

Say what you will going into the Woodward about his sensational Whitney. 'Out of the blue' or 'a fluke', is what the media and experts flirted with. The Woodward effort showed he is this type of horse, worthy of this type of competition.

Photos Over Words To Describe The Bull..

Opportunites galore as monster weekend is among us

Shared Account highlights a quintuplet of Colonial runners on Saturday in the Grade III $150,000 Virginia Oaks. The Oaks will be the second grass start of the three-year-old's career. In her first grass try, she ran third in the Perfect Sting over a yielding Belmont Park turf course. It is certainly plausible that she will move forward are her first time over firm ground. She was coming late that day and another angle to take is that she's appreciate the extra half furlong in the 1 1/8 miles event.

The gray-gelding Independent George will also take the southbound trip to Colonial in route to an appearance in the $50,000 Kitten's Joy stakes. Although the six-year-old has not won since May 2008, he is 7-for-9 career in the money at Saturday's distance of a mile. Edgar Prado is named to ride both Colonial stakes runners.

For Sally runs in the eighth race while For Passion and Spangled Star make their debuts.

Coming off a credible performance, Caprice returns after a freshening in the Grade III Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware Park.

The race sure has came up competitive as Winter View brings her three-race win streak to the table. Along with the Augustin homebred, the dangerous invader Astrologie for Christophe Clement will be there. Other main threats include Dyna's Lassie and Dress Rehearsal.

On Sunday, Sumo makes his return to the races in the Grade III Barbaro Stakes at Delaware. The 3-year-old Fusiachi Pegasus colt has not ran since the Tampa Bay Derby, and already has a second place finish in the Grade III Sam Davis on his resume. Drop A Line should make her presence felt in the Light Hearted Stakes on the same Sunday card. The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid will line up against eleven rivals.

Handicappin' Better Talk Now's Fourth United Nations

He won this very same race four years ago, finished fifth in 2006 and ran third in 2007. "The Black Horse" will return to Monmouth Park for his fourth try in the Grade I $750,000 United Nations on Saturday July 4.

Better Talk Now, now 10-years-young will break on the outside of a field of nine 1 3/8 miles event. Among those entered for this year's United Nations include last year's winner and seven other graded stakes winners.

Here's the field:

1. Banrock: Tom Bush's New York-bred ran too well to lose last time, just three weeks ago in the $200,000 Monmouth over good ground. The six-year-old closed off a solid pace set by eventual winner Presious Passion to miss by a nose.

How he can help Better Talk Now: Has won on the lead before, although it was against New Yorkers. Hoping the connections notice the lack of speed and keep him closer to Presious Passion. Reality there is he probably is not fast enough to succeed in that front-running role. Likely to come from off the pace.

2. Strike A Deal: Reunited with C.C Lopez, whom he won the G II Red Smith under in November.

How he can help: Has shown decent early running ability, could be closer than normal. Missed by a neck in 2008's rendition, will have to be closer to reel in live front-runner.

3. Brass Hat: Won last time out in the Louisville Handicap at Churchill. Prior to that effort, eight-year-old had not been within a length of the winner since 2007. Will be way out of it early.

4. Spice Route: Roger Attfield trainee sports a competitive track record. 5-year-old son of King's Best likes to do his running late. Nearly caught Presious Passion while spotting him 22 lengths, at this distance over the winter on the speed-favoring Gulfstream green. Although this are the big boys, his style mirrors BTN's. Rival.

5. Court Vision: A bit of a Jekyll & Hyde type. Looked primed in the Manhattan, but seemed not at his sharpest. His win in G I Hollywood Derby jumps off the page, although he has missed out of the exacta in his next four. Gomez returns as regular rider Dominguez participates in Belmont's big day. Very capable. Only one question, which side of him will show up?

6. Lauro: The Herringswell wildcard. The German import COULD is disguised as the second half of BTN's entry. The speed he's shown can, in an ideal situation, keep P.P honest, leading to a pace scenario of BTN's liking. Won a G II in Canada last October on the lead in an absolute crawl. Disappointingly not involved pace-wise in the Manhattan. Hoping for a sharp break on Saturday and ideally challenge for the lead through the first nine-furlongs.

7. Presious Passion: The well-talked about six-year-old makes all his money on the lead. Still does not get the respect he deserves. His last three wins (all on the lead) came at 1 1/8, 1 3/8 and 1 1/2 miles. He didn't steal them either, setting his own pace of :46.1, 1:11 in the last two and :48 and 1:12.3 while going 12-furlongs. This race sets up for him pace wise. Hoping pal to his inside changes that theory.

8. Wesley: Has never won against this type of company but trainer Hennig is more than capable. His run in the Dixie was impressive. Should almost certainly appreciate the added distance.

9. Better Talk Now: Obviously holds the seniority of the group. That is well-documented. What seems to be dismissed is that this guy can still run. He ran well in his first start off substantial layoff in the Elkhorn at Keeneland. His Manhattan effort showed he was just stretching his legs at Keeneland. It was only last summer that he finished just 2 1/2 behind Red Rocks and Curlin in the Man O' War. Then 2 behind Saratoga-lover Grand Couterier. No doubt about it in best form since then and that trio does not show up here. That Manhattan effort sets him up nicely for this spot. Extra distance is crucial and will most likely not have to be 5-wide off-the-turn.

What he'll need: He needs somebody, Lauro comes to mind, to contend with Presious Passion for the lead. The latter does not need to go slow up front to win. Especially the way this race has came up. If something unexpected happens pace-wise, odds are it'll be a good thing. Good news is, the others should finally respect Presious Passion and not let him get out there the way he likes it. On the other hand, there is a lot behind the pace-setter on Saturday. BTN, Court Vision and Spice Route were not in the Monmouth Stakes last month.

Absoulute Heaven, Shared Account turn Bold and Maiden Winners

Absoulute Heaven returned to a familiar course in Belmont Park's turf for the Sabellina, an overnight stake for New York bred older fillies and mares. The race was ran over a yielding turf course as the daughter of Not For Love was to break on the outside of six fillies on the Widener course.

The 5-year-old broke alertly and was accompanied by Follow My Dream to the lead. She tracked that one with composure until Jeremy Rose shook her up- without a whip, and asked for what she had left in the stretch. She had enough left over the bog to hold off all other challengers minus the accomplished Nehantic Kat for Barclay Tagg.

The second place finish for Absoulute Heaven was her first placing in a stakes race. In her last stakes try, she finished just 4 1/2 lengths behind winner Miss Lombardi while finishing eighth.

The following day, it was 3-year-old filly Shared Account's turn to invade the Belmont turf course. While trying green for the first time, the Pleasantly Perfect offspring plotted along while enduring some traffic trouble. Rose, again aboard had to alter her course in mid-stretch and swing outside. Her rally was good enough to grab third.

The Perfect Sting Stakes, a $65,000 overnight, was also the first time Shared Account had grabbed some bold print. The 3-year-old finished behind Dame Ellen and Strike the Bell.

On June 21, Peace Fire became the second of our bundle of 2-year-olds to break his maiden, doing so over the Colonial Downs turf course.

The son of Peace Rules did not show much and raced three wide on the turn behind mediocre fractions of 24.1 and 48.3. Jockey Sheldon Russell swung the juvenile to the four path at the head of the stretch and closed with determination to get up by a neck at the wire.

The colt, out of the Nijinsky II mare Miss Evans finished the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:08.03.

Russell was aboard again for Turf Melody's maiden romp (our third juvenile) on June 26, again at Colonial. First time out, June 10 the $200,000 yearling purchase finished fourth at Delaware. Stretching out to 7 furlongs, the son of Maria's Mon shot to the front and never looked back leaving rivals in his wake. Russell and partner went on to win by 15 1/4 lengths in 1:23.46.

Zimmer, Cherokee Empire, Noah's Dream, Source of Humor and Zilva will each attempt to join the graduated threesome from Sunday through Wednesday.

Forgot to Stop

Last Saturday, No Use Denying (Maria's Mon) and Cherokee Queen (Cherokee Run) became stakes-winning mares while winning wire-to-wire in their respective contests.

No Use Denying graduated first. Originally carded for the turf, the John Rooney Memorial Stakes at Delaware was looking as tough as can be. Graded stakes winners and performers filled the $75,000 stakes. No Use Denying was in there fresh off her third level allowance score at Pimlico. Then the rain came. The turf fillies then scratched out like a lineup of Dominoes. With just three remaining when the gates opened, the 4-year-old pulled jockey Joe Rocco Jr. to the front and never looked back. She went on her own down the Delaware Park slop like she was flowing down Kirkwood highway in the flooded streets.

Shortly after, Cherokee Queen's race, the Possibly Perfect was also off the turf. However, this one was still on Arlington's unfazed synthetic surface; the big shooters were still running. On paper, the race had some accomplished fillies, but there was a common feature within the cast of performers. They all wanted no part of the pace. Neither had Cherokee Queen, until Saturday. Jockey Jesse Campbell shot Cherokee Queen out to the lead and wisely dropped the anchor immediately while setting snail-like fractions of 26.2, 52.4 and 1:17.3. The Mack Robinson homebred never looked back and was full of run, running by 5 1/2.

Congratulations to all connections.