(April 12, 2003) - Cherylville Slew, the second longest shot in a field of eight fillies and mares, shot through a hole on the inside rail to win Saturday’s $75,000 Irving Distaff at Lone Star Park by a half-length over pacesetter Distinctive Code in front of 10,071 fans.

Owned and trained by C.R. Trout of Hammon, Okla., Cherylville Slew paid $59.40 to win. She covered 7 ½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:32.62 under jockey E.J. Perrodin, who tacked 118 pounds.

Perrodin, known to Lone Star Park regulars as “The Sod God” for his penchant to win turf races (i.e. this year’s Grade II Explosive Bid Handicap at Fair Grounds on longshot Candid Glen), settled the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly in mid-pack during the early stages of the race. Urged along on the far turn, Cheryville Slew appeared to be struggling, but found another gear in the stretch when a hole opened along the inside.

“It was a little tougher than I wanted,” said Perrodin, who collected his ninth Lone Star Park stakes win and record third in this race. “A horse on the inside kind of shoved her out [of position]. I waited, and when that horse went by, I just stayed down on the inside.”

Distinctive Code, the 6-1 third betting choice under leading rider Eddie Martin Jr., nearly stole the race with fractions of :25.14, :48.44, 1:12.98 and 1:26.01. She held second, a half-length in front of third place finisher Golden Rhythm, an 11-1 outsider.

Joyce Ann, 4-1 second choice Academic Angel, odds-on favorite Spectacular Dove, Very Geri and Miss Ritz completed the order of finish. Drexel Monorail was a late scratch.

“She didn’t like the turf course at all,” jockey Gerard Melancon said of the Tom Amoss-trained Spectacular Dove, who shipped from Kentucky to compete in the race. “She never picked up the bit for me.”

Jockey Corey Lanerie had a similar problem with the Steve Asmussen-trained Academic Angel.

“She was just pedaling behind them to keep up,” Lanerie said.

For Cherylville Slew, a daughter of 1994 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner Evansville Slew, it was her fourth win in 11 starts. The $45,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her earnings to $90,745.

“We’re elated, absolutely excited,” Trout said.

Cherylville Slew is related to Texas Mile hopeful Maysville Slew, a graded stakes champ and winner of nearly $707,879. Her dam, Momie Marie, was foaled by Maysville Slew’s dam, Shotgun Romance.

Earlier on the racing program, 16-year-old apprentice jockey Casey Fusilier collected his first Lone Star Park victory aboard Red Azalea in the second race for Asmussen.

“It was awesome,” said the youngest jockey to win a race in Lone Star Park history. “It just took a while to break the ice.”

Fusilier, who was winless in his first 19 mounts at the Grand Prairie oval, is one of three rookie riders to have won a race at the seven-day old meeting. The others are Edwin Alicea (two wins) and Belen Quinonez (one win).