- Cradle Stakes
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Ungraded Stakes race
Cradle StakesLocation Cincinnati, Ohio
United States
Inaugurated 1977 Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing Race information Distance 1-1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) Track Grass, left-handed Qualification Two-year-olds The Cradle Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds held annually at River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is currently an ungraded stakes race run over a distance of 8.5 furlongs on turf.
It was originally created as a dirt race for juveniles in 1977. Miller Genuine Draft sponsered the race from the beginning and, until 2009, it was the longest continuously sponsored Thoroughbred race in the United States. During the 1980's, the Cradle Stakes grew to become the richest race for 2-year-olds in Ohio. Two Horses of the Year, a Kentucky Derby winner, two Derby second-place finishers, and a number of graded stakes winners have graduated from the Cradle Stakes.
The 2000 edition was the deepest field ever to compete. The race produced three graded stakes winners and one of the best runners of this generation. The winner that year, Ohio-bred Harlan’s Holiday, was sent away as the favorite in the 2001 Kentucky Derby after back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Florida Derby and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. He also accounted for victories in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap and and Grade 3 Pennsylvania Derby. He traveled to Dubai where he collected a $1.2 million dollar check for the runner up spot in the World Cup. Pass Rush also came out of the 2000 “Cradle” as did Day Trader. Pass Rush won the Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup and finished second in the 2003 Grade 2 Churchill Downs Handicap. Day Trader, from the D. Wayne Lukas stable, won the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Sprint.
The Cradle Stakes was moved to the turf in 2007 to serve as a prep for the new $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Winners since 1991
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time Grade 2010 Tanzana Leandro Goncalves Garry Simms 1:44.60 2009‡ Gleam of Hope Corey Lanerie Anthony Reinstedler 1:46.80 2008 Night Action Victor Lebron Michael Maker 1:42.40 2007 Old Man Buck Perry Ouzts Kenneth McPeek 1:42.40 2006 Passport Corey Lanerie Frank Brothers 1:46.00 2005 Laity Corey Lanerie Frank Brothers 1:43.60 2004 Bellamy Road Abel Castellano Jr. Michael Dickinson 1:45.00 III 2003 Tiger Hunt Larry Melancon W. Elliott Walden 1:49.00 2002 Lone Star Sky Mark Guidry Thomas Amoss 1:46.80 2001 Harlan's Holiday Anthony D'Amico Kenneth McPeek 1:46.40 2000 Mongoose Robby Albarado William Mott 1:46.00 1999 Deputy Warlock Fabio Arguello Jr. Kenneth McPeek 1:47.40 1998 Mountain Range Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas 1:45.80 1997 Cowboy Dan Dean Kutz Danny Hutt 1:47.40 1996 Haint Shane Sellers Frank Brothers 1:46.20 1995 Devil's Honor Anthony Black Cynthia Reese 1:45.00 1994 Peaks and Valleys Pat Day James Day 1:46.60 1993 Moving Van Patricia Cooksey Michael Downing 1:48.60 1992 Crosswood James Bruin Maurice Cobb 1:47.00 III 1991 Wolf Brigade Sebastian Madrid James Morgan 1:45.50 III - ‡ In 2009, the race was run off the turf.
Earlier Winners
- 1990 - Wall Street Dancer
- 1989 - Table Limit
- 1988 - Bravoure
- 1987 - Cannon Dancer
- 1986 - Coaxing Chad
- 1985 - Go For It Matt
- 1984 - Spend A Buck
- 1983 - Coax Me Chad
Categories:- Horse races in the United States
- Horse races in Ohio
- River Downs
- Flat horse races for two-year-olds
- Turf races in the United States
- Previously graded stakes races in the United States
- Ungraded stakes races in the United States
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