Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes

The Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes is a prestigious Grade II thoroughbred horse race held annually at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Kentucky. Run over 1½ miles on a unique European-style turf course, the race attracts top turf specialists from across the country. Known for its rich purse (often exceeding $1 million) the Turf Cup is a key prep for the Breeders’ Cup Turf and a highlight of Kentucky Downs’ boutique racing meet. Its challenging layout and deep competition make it a favorite among turf racing enthusiasts.

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Bet the Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes

Bet the Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes

Location: Kentucky Downs Racetrack - Franklin, KY

Inaugural Race: 1990

TV Coverage: Stream live on TwinSpires.com! 

Current Distance: 1 1/2 miles

Track Type: Left-handed, Turf

Age Qualification: Three Year Olds and up

Purse: $2,500,000

Race Date: Saturday, September 6th

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2025 Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes Race Results

Official race results and payouts are listed below: 

POST
HORSE
JOCKEY / TRAINER
WIN / PLACE / SHOW
8
Ole Crazy Bone
Flavien Prat / Michael J. Maker
$15.50 / $8.62 / $5.70
3
Tawny Port
Manuel Franco / Miguel Clement
$13.24 / $8.02
10
Corruption
Jose L. Ortiz / Mark E. Casse
$4.88
5
Mercante
Joseph D. Ramos / Brian Knippenberg
6
Grand Sonata
Tyler Gaffalione / Todd A. Pletcher
11
Fort Washington
Junior Alvarado / Claude R. McGaughey III
1
Divin Propos (FR)
Lanfranco Dettori / Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
9
Anglophile
Declan Cannon / Brian A. Lynch
7
Utah Beach
Joel Rosario / Ignacio Correas, IV
2
El Rezeen
Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Todd A. Pletcher

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1.00 Exacta (8-3) Paid: $109.01
  • $0.50 Trifecta (8-3-10) Paid: $525.07
  • $0.10 Superfecta (8-3-10-5) Paid: $1,171.94

Watch the 2025 Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes

2025 Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes Morning Line Odds

Official race entries and morning line odds are listed below:

 

Post
Horse
Jockey / Trainer
ML Odds
1
Divin Propos (FR)
Lanfranco Dettori / Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
20-1
2
El Rezeen
Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Todd A. Pletcher
8-1
3
Tawny Port
Manuel Franco / Miguel Clement
10-1
4
Vote No
Luis Saez / Kelsey Danner
30-1
5
Mercante
Joseph D. Ramos / Brian Knippenberg
5-1
6
Grand Sonata
Tyler Gaffalione / Todd A. Pletcher
4-1
7
Utah Beach
Joel Rosario / Ignacio Correas, IV
6-1
8
Ole Crazy Bone
Flavien Prat / Michael J. Maker
15-1
9
Anglophile
Declan Cannon / Brian A. Lynch
8-1
10
Corruption
Jose L. Ortiz / Mark E. Casse
6-1

Kentucky Turf Cup Race History

Inaugurated as the Sam Houston Stakes, the Kentucky Turf Cup is 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 six 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
2025
Divin Propos (FR)
Lanfranco Dettori / Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
1 1⁄2 M / 2:24.72
2024
Grand Sonata
Tyler Gaffalione / Todd A. Pletcher
1 1⁄2 M / 2:24.93
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

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