Tyler's Tribe improves to 5 for 5 with Iowa Cradle triumph

Tyler’s Tribe will bring a 5-for-5 career record into the Breeders’ Cup next month after winning his final prep in hand Saturday night in the $100,000 Iowa Cradle at Prairie Meadows.

The race was the first of seven Thoroughbred stakes on Iowa Classic Night. Ain’t Life Grand was a 13 1/4-length winner of the Iowa Breeders’ Derby. Earlier in the meet, he won the $300,000 Iowa Derby.

Tyler’s Tribe ($2.10) was a 6 1/2-length winner of the Cradle, which was a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds bred in Iowa. He has now won his five starts by a combined margin of 59 3/4 lengths. He also owns some of his division’s top Beyer Speed Figures, and got an 89 Beyer for Saturday's race.

The record has made him a candidate for either the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile or $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, according to his trainer, Tim Martin. Both races are Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Martin said earlier this week that Tyler's Tribe, who has raced exclusively at both one turn and on dirt, is being considered for the Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles because of the configuration of the main-track race. It will end at the first finish line at Keeneland.

Tyler’s Tribe on Saturday set fractions of 21.82 seconds for the opening quarter in the Cradle and 44.81 for the half-mile. He proceeded to win in hand in 1:09.74 and worked out past the wire, with an announced time for a mile in 1:39.70.

The track was fast.

“We let him gallop out to see if he liked a mile or not, and he galloped out strong,” regular rider Kylee Jordan said in an interview broadcast by Prairie Meadows.

Martin said earlier this week that provided Tyler’s Tribe ran well in the Cradle and emerged from the race in good order, he would most likely ship to Keeneland on Tuesday. Martin plans to have a 10-horse division at Keeneland.

Tyler’s Tribe is a son of Sharp Azteca that Martin co-owns with Thomas Lepic. The horse won his fourth stakes race Saturday and improved his career earnings to $306,294.

Tyler’s Tribe was moving back into Iowa-bred company following a 15 1/2-length win over open company in the $117,000 Prairie Meadows Freshman on Aug. 27. He has made all of his starts at Prairie Meadows.

Tyler’s Tribe won a maiden special weight by 16 3/4 lengths in his debut June 20. He then took the Prairie Gold Juvenile and the Iowa Stallion Stakes – both in July – prior to the Freshman.

Tyler’s Tribe is named for Lepic’s grandson, Tyler, who has been battling leukemia. Lepic said Tyler completed his major treatments this week, and he and his grandson presented a check for $30,000 to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Lepic said the funds came from family and friends, a group that goes by the moniker Tyler’s Tribe.

The group was in attendance Saturday during a sweeping winner’s circle presentation.

Now all have their sights set on one of the biggest stages in racing.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.