Cherokee's Goal looks solid in Saskatchewan Derby

Cherokee’s Goal, who finished a solid second in the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs, should be set to score in Saturday’s $25,000 Saskatchewan Derby at Marquis Downs.

The Saskatchewan Derby, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, traditionally is the closing-day feature but the meeting was extended by two days due to weather-related cancellations and will wind up next Saturday.

Cherokee’s Goal has been a going concern in Winnipeg this season, finishing second in the six-furlong Golden Boy and capturing the 1 1/16-mile Harry Jeffrey prior to his fine performance in the Manitoba Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

In a subsequent start, at Assiniboia Downs on Aug. 27, Cherokee’s Goal finished third behind a pair of older rivals in an open allowance race at one mile.

Cherokee’s Goal has worked well in the interim for trainer Wendy Anderson and regular rider Juan Crawford will be in for the mount.

Judge Brew invades from Alberta after finishing a well-beaten fifth last time in a troubled running of the 1 3/8-mile Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.

Trained by Tim Rycroft, Judge Brew was coming into the Canadian Derby off a game win in a one-mile optional claiming race and apprentice Scott Williams is taking over the mount.

Woke Up Lovin has been untouchable since shipping over from Edmonton into trainer Judy Hunter’s barn this past spring, with four wins in as many outings while never being seriously threatened.

This will be Woke Up Lovin’s first try beyond one mile as he breaks from the inside under leading rider Naim Samaroo.

Besnard also comes into the Saskatchewan Derby in a winning mode, having captured an open allowance race over one mile and the restricted Shortgrass Heritage at the same distance in easy fashion.

Trainer Fern Zdunick and rider Neville Stephenson will be looking to take Besnard to a new level.

Dubla Gold won the Grande Prairie Derby Alberta, this summer and was third to Judge Brew in the Northlands allowance. Tim Moccasin takes the call here for trainer Kelly Grieves. ##