Betting the Cherokee Mile Stakes 2024 with Injuction

The first running of the $250,000 Cherokee Mile S. at Churchill Downs attracted a diverse group of 11 in a wildly entertaining handicapping puzzle. A combination of horses cutting back in distance, sprinters stretching out for the one-turn mile, recent claims, and horses returning from long layoffs, help comprise the well-matched field. 

Cherokee Mile Wagers

$15 exacta 3 with 7,8 ($30)
$5 exacta 7,8 with 3 ($10)
$.50-cent trifecta 3 with 7,8 with all ($9)

Cherokee Mile Stakes Analysis at Churchill Downs

I’ve long been a fan of the talented #3 Injunction and will make the gelding a key part of my wagers for conditioner Bill Cowans. The chestnut son of Skipshot has done a lot of good things on the Churchill surface in his lifetime with an 8-3-3-0 mark, which includes a fine allowance score on the course in May when he was claimed by his current connections. He has run well while winning or placing in a trio of stakes races in succession since going to Cowans, and the chestnut has the early presence to be involved from the opening bell, too. The Kentucky-bred dons a 12-3-6-1 mark at the trip and will be in the mix late with something close to his top effort under Edgar Morales. 

Grade 3 victor #8 Rocket Can, one of two Bill Mott trainees in the field, seems ideal for a one-turn mile and gets a lot of attention. This Into Mischief colt is winless since March, but he has been consistent in his last trio of runs and fits well at this class level, in general. The Kentucky-bred colt, who bagged the 2023 Holy Bull S. (G3) and was runner-up in the Fountain of Youth (G2) in the same season, will employ stalk-and-pounce tactics beneath Tyler Gaffalione. 

Mott’s #7 Scotland, second in the Vosburgh S. (G3) two back, was a non-factor when unplaced in the Bold Ruler S. (G3) as the favorite in his latest encounter, but the stakes winning four-year-old has obvious ability and looks like a contender with go-to pilot Junior Alvarado in the stirrups. The homebred has won or placed in three of his four local tries to date, and his running style seems ideal for a one-mile contest around one turn. The Good Magic gelding put in a swift four furlongs on the oval leading up to Sunday and will always be in striking range in the heat.