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Breeders’ Cup Notes/Edited
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Tom Lepic and trainer Tim Martin’s undefeated Tyler’s Tribe got a spin over the Keeneland turf course Tuesday morning as he drew closer to his start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) that will kick off Future Stars Friday at the 39th World Championships.
“We did the turf today, walk Wednesday, go to the gate Thursday and won’t go to the track Friday morning,” Martin said. “I’m Quarter horse training; I want him fresh and fast!”
Tyler’s Tribe will be making his grass debut after winning five races on the dirt at Prairie Meadows by a combined 59 ¾ lengths. Kylee Jordan, who is making her Breeders’ Cup debut, has the mount Friday on the Iowa-bred son of Sharp Azteca and break from post 10.
“The 10 is fine; he broke his maiden from there,” Martin said. “On the dirt, he has a fast-cruising speed and I’d like to see him get out of the gate good and then settle.
“He’s a fast horse and the speed (Speed Boat Beach and The Platinum Queen) is outside of us. If they want the lead, they are going to have to go around us.”
The colt is named for the followers of Lepic’s grandson Tyler Juhl, who was declared cancer free last week in his battle with leukemia.
“There are going to be watch parties all over the state and there will be about a hundred Iowans here for the race,” said Lepic, who has turned down offers for Tyler’s Tribe.
“We never ever had even a thought of selling. We had a lot of awfully good offers, but it was never considered,” Lepic said. “He’s a family horse, a horse that means so much more than just to our family but to the Leukemia Foundation. He will stay with our family and Tim Martin his entire life.”
Tyler’s Tribe also had been pre-entered in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, but the connections opted to stay at a sprint distance and try the grass.
“He’s going to Oaklawn Park right after this,” Lepic said. “They have four stakes there and we will stretch him out and see what happens.”
