Kentucky Turf Cup
Breeders' Cup Challenge Series > Kentucky Turf Cup
Kentucky Turf Cup Race Facts
- Location: Kentucky Downs, Franklin, KY
- Inaugural Race: 1990
- Distance: 1 & 1/2 miles (12 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-handed, Turf
- Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
- 2023 Purse: $1,700,000
- 2023 Race Date: Saturday, September 9th
2023 Kentucky Turf Cup Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|
5 | Get Smokin | Fernando De La Cruz / Mark E. Casse | $41.40 / $21.16 / $11.50 |
12 | Spooky Channel | James Graham / Jason Barkley | $16.14 / $7.92 |
4 | Santin | Florent Geroux / Brendan P. Walsh | $5.16 |
2 | Red Knight | Tyler Gaffalione / Michael J. Maker | |
3 | Verstappen | Declan Cannon / Brendan P. Walsh | |
7 | Kitodan | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Eric N. Foster | |
6 | Me and Mr. C | Gerardo Corrales / Michael J. Maker | |
11 | Therapist | Javier Castellano / Michael J. Maker | |
8 | Never Explain | Joel Rosario / Claude R. McGaughey III | |
1 | Foreign Relations | John R. Velazquez / Conor Murphy |
Showing 1 to 10 of 12 entries
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (5-12) Paid: $412.04
- $0.50 Trifecta (5-12-4) Paid: $1,409.45
- $0.10 Superfecta (5-12-4-2) Paid: $1,659.32
Watch the 2023 Kentucky Turf Cup
Kentucky Turf Cup Race History
Inaugurated as the Sam Houston Stakes, the Kentucky Turf Cupis a Grade II race held in September at Kentucky Downs. The race's most notable winner is Cloudy's Night, who in 2007 was crowned Canadian Champion Male Turf Horse. He won in 2009 as part of a great bounce-back season from sitting out with a tendon injury all of the previous year.
Three horses are tied for the record for most wins: Rochester (2002, 2003), Da Big Hoss (2015, 2016), and Arklow (2018, 2020). Jockey Florent Geroux holds the record for most wins with four, while Michael J. Maker is the record holder for trainers with five wins of his own.
As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" Series, winners are automatically entered into the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Kentucky Turf Cup Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|
2023 | Get Smokin | Fernando De La Cruz / Mark E. Casse | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.66 |
2022 | Red Knight | Gerardo Corrales / Michael J. Maker | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:26.96 |
2021 | Imperador (ARG) | Joseph Talamo / Paulo H. Lobo | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:25.70 |
2020 | Arklow | Florent Geroux / Brad H. Cox | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.66 |
2019 | Zulu Alpha | Jose L. Ortiz / Michael J. Maker | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.62 |
2018 | Arklow | Florent Geroux / Brad H. Cox | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.56 |
2017 | Oscar Nominated | Julien R. Leparoux / Michael J. Maker | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.37 |
2016 | Da Big Hoss | Florent Geroux / Michael J. Maker | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:35.08 |
2015 | Da Big Hoss | Joseph Rocco Jr. / Michael J. Maker | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:33.40 |
2014 | Suntracer | Florent Geroux / Chris M. Block | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.12 |
Showing 1 to 10 of 33 entries