Cherokee Triangle up in time in Guilliams

Cherokee Triangle made a late surge to make the lead just before the wire in a frantic three-horse conclusion Saturday in the inaugural running of the $50,000 Cliff Guilliams Memorial Stakes at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.

With Victor Lebron riding for trainer Mike Maker, Cherokee Triangle won by a head over Veiled Prophet, who had taken command with a bold outside move at the quarter pole. El Aleman, the longest shot in the field at 58-1, made a huge late run to finish just another neck back in third.

Old Man Buck, the 9-10 favorite, appeared to struggle much of the way before fading to finish fifth in a field of nine 3-year-olds.

Cherokee Triangle, a colt by Cherokee Run, is owned by Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable. He finished returned $8 as second choice after completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.43 over a firm turf.

The Gulliams Memorial honors the turf writer and chart-caller who died in April at age 52.