Cherokee's Goal handles first route assignment

Cherokee's Goal, stretching out for the first time, stalked the pace and then came on for a 2 1/4-length score in the $30,000 Harry Jeffrey Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Saturday evening.

Ridden by Juan Crawford, Cherokee's Goal was coming off a second-place finish in the six-furlong Golden Boy and stamped himself as the top local prospect for the Aug. 2 Manitoba Derby with his victory in the 1 1/16-mile Harry Jeffrey.

Key Largo pressed and set the pace before giving way to the winner but held second by three-quarters of a length over Mankato Strike.

Gone in A Flash, the 8-5 favorite, ended fourth in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

Cherokee's Goal, owned by Hy Road Stable and trained by Clayton Gray, returned $8.60 as the third choice and earned $18,000 to boost his career bankroll to $40,707.