Exotics Plays for the Kentucky Turf Cup

An excellent field of 11 will vie in Saturday’s lucrative, $2.5 million Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational S. (G2) at Kentucky Downs. The 1 1/2-mile grassy tilt features two major contenders from the Todd Pletcher barn, including defending champ #6 Grand Sonata (4-1), but I’m also quite fond of his stablemate. 

Turf Cup Wagers

• $8 exacta 2 with 3,5,6 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 2 with 3,5,6 with all ($13.50)
• 50-cent trifecta 3,5,6 with 2 with all ($13.50)

Shadwell homebred #2 El Rezeen (8-1) will make his first run over the course and seems poised to become a stakes winner sooner than later. By English Channel, the four-year-old has placed in two graded races in his last four assignments and is much better than his fifth-place result in the Sword Dancer S. (G1) at Saratoga last time out suggests. The Kentucky-bred chestnut can run all day, and he has been facing some serious horses since October, as well. I’m not sure if I love the blinkers coming off for this one as he started his fine run of form with the hood on, but I’ll trust his connections, nonetheless. Irad will be in the saddle. 

Arlington S. (G3) victor #5 Mercante (5-1) will also be making his local debut at this venue and will be a formidable foe if he can see out the 12 furlongs. The Brian Knippenberg trainee had a nice prep for this at eight panels at Ellis Park most recently and should be fit for this one, second time off the short absence. The Gun Runner gelding has good gate speed and is something of a grinder, which seems ideal to handle a distance of this kind for the initial time. Kentucky-bred will be forcing the tempo from the break with regular pilot Joseph Ramos retaining the ride. 

#3 Tawny Port (10-1) was a clear third in the contest in 2024 and is a nice exotics piece in the field for Miguel Clement, who has had a fantastic summer up to this point. The six-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile was second in a race at 2 1/16 miles on the oval last week and wheels right back with a cut back in distance on Saturday. The $1.5 million earner hasn’t won in a while, but he could surely make the frame at a price under Manny Franco. 

Grand Sonata was a fine second in the Arlington Million (G1) in his latest showing, and he looms large with an obvious affinity for the course. Pletcher pupil will have Tyler Gaffalione in the irons.