Cherokee Run (USA)
March 15, 1990 – July 2, 2016
Runaway Groom (CAN) x Cherokee Dame (USA), by Silver Saber (USA)
Family 21
March 15, 1990 – July 2, 2016
Runaway Groom (CAN) x Cherokee Dame (USA), by Silver Saber (USA)
Family 21
Good enough over intermediate distances to win the Dwyer Stakes (USA-II) and run a close second in the Preakness Stakes (USA-I) at 3, Cherokee Run found his niche as a sprinter-miler as a 4-year-old, winning his championship more by consistency than sheer brilliance. He was a useful sire of speedy stock.
Race record
28 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$1,531,849
1992:
1993:
1994:
1995:
Honors
As an individual
Cherokee Run was a handsome, well-balanced, athletic dark bay or brown horse standing 16 hands. He was slightly upright in his pasterns and was troubled with foot problems as a 4-year-old. He had a calm disposition that stayed with him even as a breeding stallion.
As a stallion
Cherokee Run led the American freshman sire list in 1999 and was the American champion juvenile sire list of 2007. According to Jockey Club records, Cherokee Run has sired 570 winners (67.9%) and 49 stakes winners (5.8%) from 840 foals of racing age; The Blood-Horse credits Cherokee Run with 53 stakes winners (6.3%). He was pensioned from stud duty in October 2009 due to declining fertility and increasing lameness.
Notable progeny
Chilukki (USA), Sean Avery (USA), War Pass (USA), Yonaguska (USA)
Connections
Cherokee Run was bred in Florida by George C. Onett. He was owned by Jill E. Robinson. He was trained by Frank Gomez as a juvenile and by Frank Alexander at 3 and 4. He entered stud in 1996 at Jonabell Farm (later Darley at Jonabell) and stood there throughout his stud career. He was humanely destroyed on July 2, 2016, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Cherokee Run is inbred 4x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah and 5x5x5 to Nasrullah's sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course and a two-time champion sire in England. His dam Cherokee Dame is a half sister to stakes winners Cherokee Fellow (by Funny Fellow), Count Francescui (by Barachois) and Groomstick (by Runaway Groom). Cherokee Run's second dam Dame Francesca is a stakes-placed daughter of Francis S. and is out of the Nasrullah mare Maid to Rule, whose Turn-to half sister Cargreen produced Grade II winner Green Gambados.
Fun facts
Race record
28 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$1,531,849
1992:
- 2nd What a Pleasure Stakes (2yo) (USA-III, 8.5FD, Calder)
1993:
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA-II, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Lafayette Stakes (USA-III, 7FD, Keeneland)
- Won Derby Trial Stakes (USA-III, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-I, 9.5FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Jamaica Handicap (USA-III, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Swale Stakes (USA-III, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
1994:
- Won Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-I, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (USA-II, 6FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA-I, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd A Phenomenon Handicap (USA-III, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Tom Fool Stakes (USA-II, 7FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Vosburgh Stakes (USA-I, 7FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Carter Handicap (USA-I, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Westchester Handicap (USA-III, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1995:
- Won Gulfstream Park Sprint Handicap (USA-L, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
- Calder Race Course Hall of Fame (inducted in 1998)
- Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (1994)
As an individual
Cherokee Run was a handsome, well-balanced, athletic dark bay or brown horse standing 16 hands. He was slightly upright in his pasterns and was troubled with foot problems as a 4-year-old. He had a calm disposition that stayed with him even as a breeding stallion.
As a stallion
Cherokee Run led the American freshman sire list in 1999 and was the American champion juvenile sire list of 2007. According to Jockey Club records, Cherokee Run has sired 570 winners (67.9%) and 49 stakes winners (5.8%) from 840 foals of racing age; The Blood-Horse credits Cherokee Run with 53 stakes winners (6.3%). He was pensioned from stud duty in October 2009 due to declining fertility and increasing lameness.
Notable progeny
Chilukki (USA), Sean Avery (USA), War Pass (USA), Yonaguska (USA)
Connections
Cherokee Run was bred in Florida by George C. Onett. He was owned by Jill E. Robinson. He was trained by Frank Gomez as a juvenile and by Frank Alexander at 3 and 4. He entered stud in 1996 at Jonabell Farm (later Darley at Jonabell) and stood there throughout his stud career. He was humanely destroyed on July 2, 2016, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Cherokee Run is inbred 4x4 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah and 5x5x5 to Nasrullah's sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course and a two-time champion sire in England. His dam Cherokee Dame is a half sister to stakes winners Cherokee Fellow (by Funny Fellow), Count Francescui (by Barachois) and Groomstick (by Runaway Groom). Cherokee Run's second dam Dame Francesca is a stakes-placed daughter of Francis S. and is out of the Nasrullah mare Maid to Rule, whose Turn-to half sister Cargreen produced Grade II winner Green Gambados.
Fun facts
- Cherokee Run's barn name was “Monkey.”
- The Cherokee Run Stakes is contested at Gulfstream Park and is currently a listed race for 3-year-olds going 6½ furlongs on dirt.
