Iowa-bred star Tyler's Tribe once again demonstrated his prowess at Prairie Meadows, dominating three overmatched opponents in a 15 ½-length trouncing Saturday eveing in the $100, 000 Prairie Meadows Freshman Stakes. Now, his connections have their eye on the Breeders' Cup.
The precocious 2-year-old gelding, by Sharp Azteca, owned by Prairie Meadows Hall of Famer Tom Lepic and trainer Tim Martin, is perfect in four career starts, including two other of double-digit margin wins.
Guided by regular rider Kylee Jordan, Tyler's Tribe broke sharp and quickly put the outcome out of question in the matter of a few powerful strides, leading at every point of call while extending his command throughout.
Tyler's Tribe finished the six furlongs in 1:09.83 on a fast track.
Runtoday was second, 13 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Echo Canyon.
“I'd like to run him in that 5 1/2 sprint race (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint [G1] November 4 at Keeneland),” Martin told bloodhorse.com. “He's a pretty fast horse. I don't know if he'll like the turf, I've seen some Sharp Aztecas that went on the turf, one or two. So that's what we're hoping for.”
Martin told the publication he sent in his application for the World Championships Saturday,
Tyler's Tribe returned $2.10.
The dark bay or brown gelding debuted against Iowa-bred maidens on June 20, breaking from the outside post position at 4 ½ furlongs, grabbing an early lead, and going on to win by 16 lengths.
On July 9, the gelding stretched out to 5 ½ furlongs, faced open company for the first time, and again led every step of the way as he won the $122,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile by over eight lengths.
In his previous start, Tyler's Tribe scored a third straight wire-to-wire tally on July 30 as he won the Iowa Stallion Futurity by a dozen lengths.
“He makes it look easy,” Martin said after that race. “He's behaved like a professional since the first day he came to the barn. It looks like the sky's the limit!”
Tyler's Tribe also puts an emotional back story in the spotlight as the gelding is named after Lepic's grandson, who is battling childhood leukemia.
The Lepic family and friends have had a large contingent representing “Tyler's Tribe” in the winner's circle after each of the gelding's victories.
“Tyler has been such a trooper throughout his illness,” Lepic said before Saturday's race. “We wanted to give him some fun and excitement this summer and we couldn't have asked for anything better.”
“You never know how these young horses are going to turn out,” Lepic added. “But I told Tyler I really thought we'd found 'a racehorse' for him and, so far, so good.”
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