Trotter back after 6 years

Cherry Hills, an 11-year-old trotter that has not competed in a pari-mutuel race since Dec. 31, 2000, will make his return to the track in Wednesday’s fourth race $4,700 trot from Pompano Park.

“When I first shipped in I saw him (Cherry Hills) jogging,” Cherry Hills’ former trainer Bill Gallagher said. “He was going the other way and I looked, and I thought, ‘It can’t be him, what is he doing here?’ Sure enough, it was the old man. It was really funny to see him out there.”

During his juvenile campaign in 1998, Cherry Hills won four of seven starts for Gallagher and owner Joe Chnapko, including the Reynolds Memorial Trot at Pocono Downs. It would be his first appearance of 1999, however, that would prove to Gallagher that his colt had the potential to tackle some of the most prestigious races on the trotting calendar.

“In the first start of his 3-year-old season he went in 1:57.1 at the Meadows, and did it like a good horse,” Gallagher said. “Right then, we knew we had something.”

During his sophomore season, Cherry Hills would compete with the top trotters of his generation, finishing fourth to Self Possessed in the 1999 Kentucky Futurity, fifth to that rival in the Hambletonian, and was second to Angus Hall in a Hambletonian elimination division.

“He raced in the same year with Self Possessed and some really good horses,” Gallagher remembers. “He wasn’t necessarily as good as some of the top guys, he may have been just a notch below them, but I never had a horse that tried as hard as he did. He has a heart of gold.”

Despite a string of moderate success at the sport’s highest level, the 1999 season for Cherry Hills would end with a ninth-place finish in the Matron at Dover Downs and 2000 would see the horse win just once, taking a $17,500 non-winners race at the Meadowlands.

Cherry Hills would make his way to Pompano Park in December of 2000 where he closed out the season, in what appeared to be the final races of his career, with consecutive last place efforts at the $8,000 Open Trot level.

“At the end of 2000 he was purchased for stallion duty in Quebec,” Gallagher said. “They (McTrade Enterprises Inc.) were looking for a stud with his cross and a horse that had been tested with the best. He fit that mold.”

Cherry Hills’ career in the breeding shed began with current owners McTrade Enterprises Inc. in Quebec, where the horse performed stallion duties through the 2003 breeding season. From there, the son of Sierra Kosmos was booked through Georgette Guillemette Inc., located in St-Gregoire, Ville de Becanour, where he covered mares through 2006.

Throughout his career as a stallion, Cherry Hills produced 42 registered foals and 13 starters. His offspring is led by the pacer Canbec Condor, who has visited the winner’s circle 16 times and has a lifetime mark of 1:52.3, with earnings of $94,553. Cherry Hills’ top trotting foal is Scene Duharas, who is currently stabled at Rideau Carlton. The gelding recently won a claiming handicap on Jan. 11.

Although he is not currently involved in the training of Cherry Hills--that job belongs to Gary Lemaister--Gallagher still has faith in the ability of his former trainee.

“If there is any horse that can do it (come back form a six-year layoff), it’s him,” Gallagher stated. “I mean, it may take him a few starts to get going his best, but I know that horse, and I wouldn’t bet against him making a successful comeback.

“Usually after being at stud they come back to the track and they’re sour,” Gallagher continued, “but he’s all race horse, you could just tell when I saw him. He looks great, he looks sound, and he is bigger and thicker than before.”

As for Wednesday’s fourth race, Cherry Hills’ first start in just over six years, Gallagher plans to be front and center.

“I’ve got Xtra Perfect going in the second race, but I’ll be around for the old guy’s race,” Gallagher said. “I’ll be there watching and rooting for him. His number one fan, that’s me.”

Cherry Hills won his qualifying heat on Jan. 19, trotting the mile in 2:01. He will be driven by Bruce Ranger from post six on Wednesday and will take on eight rivals. Cherry Hills has been installed at 8-1 in the morning line. (Pompano Park)

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