Tyler's Tribe staying at Prairie Meadows for stakes

Tyler’s Tribe could develop into a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup, but before then the 2-year-old who has put up some of the year’s best Beyer Speed Figures has upcoming race options at his home track of Prairie Meadows.

Trainer Tim Martin said Friday that Tyler’s Tribe has two sprint stakes opportunities at home in Iowa, the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Freshman on Aug. 27 and the $100,000 Iowa Cradle on Oct. 1.

“We kind of want to keep him in Iowa – not ship around a 2-year-old in 100-degree heat,” said Martin, who also co-owns Tyler’s Tribe with Thomas Lepic. “The Breeders’ Cup, we’d look forward to that in November, if everything is going good. We’ll just go step by step and see how it works out. So far, he’s stepped up to the plate and done what he’s supposed to do.”

Tyler’s Tribe is undefeated in three starts, with his wins coming by a combined margin of 37 3/4 lengths. He won the Iowa Stallion Stakes at Prairie Meadows in his most recent start July 30, under regular rider Kylee Jordan.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

“He won real easy, won by 12 1/2 lengths, just sitting on him,” Martin said. “He came out of the one hole, just shot out of there, and just ran real big.”

Tyler’s Tribe earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90, which is the second-highest for a 2-year-old colt or gelding this year behind the 91 earned by Gulfport on July 4 at Churchill Downs. Prior to the Iowa Stallion Stakes, Tyler’s Tribe won the Prairie Meadows Gold Juvenile with a Beyer of 86, giving him two of the top three numbers among juvenile colts and geldings so far in 2022.

Martin said any Breeders’ Cup bid would likely come in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. He also said he would not rule out the Juvenile Turf.

“His sire, a couple of his babies have won on turf, looked impressive on turf,” Martin said, referring to the stallion Sharp Azteca. “I don’t really want to go long with him this year. I’d rather not. Five and a half on the grass – or a flat mile wouldn’t bother me, either. If you watch him run and watch him gallop out, he looks like he gets better and better to me, and everybody else. He just sits where he wants in a high cruising speed and then he takes off.”

Martin said as an Iowa-bred, Tyler’s Tribe is running for some significant purse supplements at home at Prairie Meadows. He said another reason to continue to race locally at the moment is the fact that the horse’s namesake and family and friends can easily be out at the races with Tyler’s Tribe. The horse is named for the young grandson of Lepic, who has been battling leukemia.

“Tyler is there every time,” Martin said. “It’s just a great deal and so we kind of want to do that. We’re just doing that right now.”

If the results continue, Tyler and his tribe of supporters might be making a November trip to Keeneland with one of the fastest 2-year-olds in North America.