A field of 10 two-year-olds will square off in Monday’s $200,000 Cradle S.
The 1 1/16-mile test is the highlight of the racing season at River Downs and
the first important two-turn race for juveniles in the Midwest.
Claiborne Farm’s PASSPORT (Pulpit) is the 3-1 morning line favorite. Trained
by Frank Brothers, the bay colt rallied from well off the pace to break his
maiden going a mile on the turf at Ellis Park in his debut. The first foal out
of multiple Grade 3 winner Trip (Lord At War [Arg]) could give Claiborne and
Brothers back-to-back victories in the Cradle. Laity (Pulpit) won the
Cradle by 11 3/4 lengths for the same connections last year.
Trainer Kenny McPeek will saddle BOLD START (Jump Start) and LOOSE LEAF
(Notebook) in search of his third victory in the Cradle. McPeek won the Cradle
with Deputy Warlock in 1999 and Harlan’s Holiday in 2001. Bold Start broke
his maiden at Churchill Downs running 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.
Loose Leaf won the one mile and 70-yard allowance prep over this track on August 12.
Other contenders include the Tom Amoss-trained IZZIE’S HALO (Halo’s Image),
who finished second twice at Arlington, and WANNABEINCLUED (Include), a
five-length maiden winner at Louisiana Downs in his last start.
The field for the 30th running of the Cradle, from the inside out with
jockeys and morning-line odds, is Wannabeinclued, Calvin Borel, 8-1; TROPHY
ROAD (Jump Start), John McKee, 6-1; WHAM (Sea of Secrets), Brice Blanc, 12-1;
PEWEE VALLEY (Peaks and Valleys), Gregory Schaefer, 30-1; Bold Start, Larry
Melancon, 4-1; Passport, Corey Lanerie; MISTER CUGAT (King Cugat), Jodie
Fortner, 20-1; Izzie’s Halo, Justin Vitek, 7-2; CAJUN MOON (Jambalaya Jazz),
Willie Martinez, 12-1; Loose Leaf, Francisco Torres, 5-1.
All starters will carry 120 pounds.