Cherokee Country honored in Pennsylvania

Cherokee Country, whose five victories in 2009 included a track record and a Grade 3 stakes, was named Pennsylvania's horse of the year for 2009 on Wednesday night by the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. The awards are for horses that raced at Philadelphia Park.

A 5-year-old trained by Ramon Preciado and owned by Lou Cacchio's Victory Thoroughbreds, Cherokee Country broke the Philly Park record for 6 1/2 furlongs with a time of 1:14.39 in an allowance race on the Pennsylvania Derby undercard and upset the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct in late November to complete a season in which he earned $236,200. He was also honored as the top older male.

Other divisional awards went to Deputy Daney, 2-year-old male; Romantic Hideaway, 2-year-old filly; Neeyo, 3-year-old male; Amazed by Grace, 3-year-old filly; Coastal Solace, older female; and Polka at Night, top claiming horse.