# Cradle Stakes

The Cradle Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds held at Belterra Park (formerly River Downs) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Open to two-year-olds, it is run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the turf.
It was originally created as a dirt race for juveniles in 1977. Miller Genuine Draft sponsored the race from the beginning and, until 2009, it was the longest continuously sponsored Thoroughbred race in the United States. During the 1980s, the Cradle Stakes grew to become the richest race for 2-year-olds in Ohio. One notable winner in that decade was Spend a Buck, who won the 1984 Cradle before going on to win the Kentucky Derby and Horse of the Year honors in 1985.
The Cradle Stakes was moved to the turf in 2007 to serve as a prep for the new Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf race. River Downs management put the Cradle, and its filly counterpart the Bassinet, on hiatus after 2010 as part of a new contract with horsemen in an effort to maintain daily purses. In July 2022, Belterra management announced that both races would return in September of that year. Both races were cancelled again in August 2022.

## Winners

| 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 |
| 1990 | Wall Street Dancer | Sebastian Madrid | Jesus Suarez | | |
| 1989 | Table Limit | Herb McCauley | D. Wayne Lukas | | |
| 1988 | Bravoure | Michael McDowell | John E. Churchman, Jr. | | |
| 1987 | Cannon Dancer | Mike Manganello | Peter W. Salmen, Jr. | | |
| 1986 | Coaxing Chad | Steve Neff | Ronnie G. Warren | | |
| 1985 | Go For It Matt | Chris Antley | Ronnie G. Warren | | |
| 1984 | Spend a Buck | Charles Hussey | Cam Gambolati | | |
| 1983 | Coax Me Chad | Julio Espinoza | William E. Adams | | |
| 1982 | Spare Card | Glynn Louviere | Richard P. Hazelton | | |
| 1981 | Ashley's Miss | Eugene J. Sipus, Jr. | James B. McKathan, Jr. | | |
| 1980 | Gallant Lt. | Clifton Schwing | Fred Watkins | | |
| 1979 | Ray's Word | Antonio Costa | Sherman Ingram | | |
| 1978 | Noon Shadow | J. Harrison | Jacqueline Branham | | |
| 1977 | Bolero's Orphan | Nick Shuk | James H. Iselin | | |
* ‡ In 2009, the race was run off the turf.