A sidetracking assembly employs a running tool for engaging the whipstock. A cement tube flows low-viscosity fluid through the whipstock to set a hydraulically actuable anchor and to transmit fluid cement further downhole in order to set a cement plug. A latch dog releasably associates the running tool with the whipstock. The latch dog disengages the running tool from the whipstock after the anchor is set. The running tool and cement tube can be raised a designed distance using a first pull tension, indicating that the cement tube is not restrained and that therefore an operation to pump cement to form a cement plug below the assembly may be executed. Following the cementing operation, a greater pull tension can be applied to release the cement tube from the whipstock, permitting complete withdrawal of the reusable running tool and cement tube from the wellbore.