Pressing a moderate pace, Cherry One scored a 2 ¼-length victory in the $40,000 First Lady Handicap for fillies and mares at Ruidoso Downs on Saturday.

Cherry One is a chestnut 4-year-old filly campaigned by Cleber J. Massey of Abilene, Texas. Prepped by Joel Marr and ridden by Carlos Madeira, the homebred daughter of Sir Cherokee went 6 furlongs in 1:12.03 after laying close to fractions of :24.50 and :47.41. A.P. Flatter, the 2-1 favorite in the field of eight, ran second.

Cherry One is one of 16 winners from 33 starters sired by Sir Cherokee, a 10-year-old stallion by Cherokee Run who won three stakes from 2003-04, including the 2003 Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park at odds of 55-1. A half brother to three-time Grade 2 winner Miss Isella, Cherokee Run has sired three crops and the earners of more than $589,000, including Captain Cherokee, a 4-year-old colt who ran third in Quality Road’s 2009 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.

Cherry One’s dam, One Accord, is an 18-year-old daughter of the Northern Dancer stallion El Gran Senor who won three stakes in Maryland from 1996-97. Cherry One’s half sister, the More Than Ready filly More Accord, won the 2008 Frontier Buckles Allowance Stakes at SunRay Park.

Cherry One’s second dam, the Al Hattab mare Mr. T’s Tune, earned $255,560 from 41 outs from 1983-86, and her 10 victories included six stakes at Churchill Downs in Kentucky, Canterbury Downs in Minnesota, and Arlington Park in Illinois. Her third dam, the Golden Ruler mare Muted Music, produced two other stakes winners, including Heavenly Note, a daughter of Sunny’s Halo who won the 1993 La Primavera Handicap at The Downs at Albuquerque.

A lightly raced Kentucky-bred filly, Cherry One has won four of six races, and the $24,000 winner’s share of the First Lady purse increased her earnings to $84,500. The filly began her career with a three-race win streak that included last year’s 6 ½-furlong, $50,000 El Paso Times Handicap at Sunland Park.

Apollean ran third and was followed officially by Indiabonita, Little Miss Ruler, Victorious Vee, Miss Dominant, and Snowdrop. The 5-2 third choice in the wagering, Snowdrop crossed the wire third , but she was disqualified and placed eighth for breaking inward and bothering Apollean and Miss Dominant at the start.

Runner-up A.P. Flatter banked $8,800 to increase her earnings to $51,144 for owner Patricia L. Grunwald. A 5-year-old daughter of Flatter, A.P. Flatter was coming off of a second-place finish in a 7 ½-furlong, $16,000 claiming race on the turf at Turf Paradise. The mare ran third in the ’08 Aspen Cup Handicap at Ruidoso.

Apollean earned $4,000 for owner Fernando de la Cruz. The 4-year-old bay daughter of Apollo has banked $90,838 from four wins in 11 outs, and her stakes record includes a neck victory in the 6-furlong, $50,000 Czaria Stakes at Sunland Park on April 10.