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

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