Tyler's Tribe stays home for final Breeders' Cup prep

Tyler’s Tribe will be an odds-on favorite to run his record to 5 for 5 on Saturday night, when he makes his final start before the Breeders’ Cup during the $1 million Iowa Classics card at Prairie Meadows.

Tyler’s Tribe goes in the Iowa Cradle. It’s one of seven Thoroughbred stakes for Iowa-breds worth $100,000 each, with the Breeders’ Derby drawing another standout in Ain’t Life Grand. The 13-race card starts at 4 p.m. Central and includes four stakes for Quarter Horses.

Tyler’s Tribe has won his four starts by a combined margin of 53 1/4 lengths. He owns some of the year’s top Beyer Speed Figures for his division in a record that has made him a candidate for either the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile or $1 million BC Juvenile Turf Sprint. Both races are Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

“Hopefully, everything goes well and he comes back good, and if he does, we’ve got sights on the Breeders’ Cup,” said Tim Martin, who co-owns and trains Tyler’s Tribe.

Tyler’s Tribe is moving back into Iowa-bred company following a 15 1/2-length win in the $117,000 Prairie Meadows Freshman on Aug. 27. For covering six furlongs in 1:09.83 he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“I think the horse is getting better and stronger as we go,” Martin said. “He’s filling out more. He’s getting a little more aggressive, wanting to train a little more, wanting to work a little faster if you let him. He’s coming around good.”

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Tyler’s Tribe will face five others when he starts from post 6 under regular rider Kylee Jordan.

“I like the draw,” Martin said.

“He doesn’t have to be on the lead. He’s just fast. He relaxes good.”

Tyler’s Tribe has made all of his starts at Prairie Meadows. He won a maiden special weight by 16 3/4 lengths in his debut June 20, then racked up three stakes wins. He took the Prairie Gold Juvenile over eventual stakes winner Top Recruit and the Iowa Stallion Stakes prior to the Freshman.

Martin owns Tyler’s Tribe with Thomas Lepic, who named the son of Sharp Azteca for his young grandson Tyler, who has been fighting leukemia while attending the gelding’s races at his home track of Prairie Meadows.

Ain’t Life Grand in Derby

Ain’t Life Grand will go for his second derby win of the meet when he starts as a strong favorite in the Iowa Breeders’ Derby.

Earlier in the season, the horse won the $300,000 Iowa Derby, closing from next to last to catch Conagher, who returned in his next start to take the $100,000 Housebuster at Colonial Downs with a Beyer of 95.

Ain’t Life Grand remained home and won the Iowa Stallion Stakes before venturing to Saratoga for the Travers in his most recent out Aug. 27. He finished seventh after breaking sharply and being part of the pace.

“A lot more aggressive than what we wanted, for sure,” trainer Kelly Von Hemel said. “This time we’d like to break and settle behind the early leaders and just get a good trip from there.”

Ain’t Life Grand earned a Beyer of 96 in the Travers, and the number stands out in the Breeders’ Derby. The race will be run over 1 1/16 miles. Elvin Gonzalez has the mount from post 2.

“We’ve worked him twice since the Travers, and he’s training good,” Von Hemel said. “He’s worked great, so we expect a big effort out of him.

“He’s a horse that gives his best effort all the time. He loves to run.”

Ain’t Life Grand races for his breeders, RPM Thoroughbreds.

Von Hemel quartet in Branstad

Von Hemel will saddle four starters in the Gov. Terry Branstad for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. And he will personally tighten the girth on each horse.

“You just hustle,” he quipped.

Time Goes On could go favored following his win in the Cyclones, a race in which the Von Hemel runners locked up the top four spots. Time Goes On was a half-length winner Aug. 13.

“He ran a big race – finally got a post position he could work with a little bit and the trip was perfect,” Von Hemel said. “He wanted to go a route and he finally had a good trip.

“He always tries. This horse is honest – short, long. It doesn’t matter. He always gives us his best effort.”

Glenn Corbett has the mount from post 7.

“He can be up front or he can lay a little off of them,” Von Hemel said.

Sir Wally Wally was second in the Cyclones. He starts from post 2 under Gonzalez.

“When you ask him, he always runs hard,” Von Hemel said. “He also has got some tactical speed, can be closer to the pace and pretty much where you want him to be the whole time.”

Whiskey Wednesday was third in the Cyclones and breaks from the rail under Kevin Roman.

“He’s a deep closer,” Von Hemel said. “We’re hoping we can keep him a length or two closer to the pack than what he has been lately. One thing about him, slow pace, fast pace, he’ll come running.”

You Talkin to Me, who was fourth in the Cyclones, starts from post 4 under Jordan.

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