Cherubini opened a clear lead in the stretch in her career debut and drove to a 1 1/4-length score under John McKee in the first race on Sunday at Churchill Downs to become the first career winner for freshman sire Great Notion.

The Silverton Hill homebred filly broke in the air in the five-furlong maiden claiming race, charged ahead to challenge from three wide, and accelerated clear to prevail in :59.45 for trainer Darrin Miller. Cherubini is out of the Silver Deputy mare Big Out There.

Great Notion, an eight-year-old by Elusive Quality out of the Dayjur mare Evening Primrose, stands for $3,500 at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Maryland. From the immediate family of Grade 1 winner and sire Talinum, Great Notion has 38 two-year-olds in his first crop.

Great Notion won three of 12 starts, including the 2003 Southwest Stakes, and earned $194,608 in three seasons for owner Silverton Hill. In ’03, Great Notion finished second in both the King’s Bishop (G1) and Amsterdam (G2) Stakes.