Bet on the Kentucky Turf Cup
Established in 1991 as the Sam Houston Handicap, the Kentucky Turf Cup restarted this event in 1998 when the Kentucky Downs track reopened after financial difficulties closed the track down during the 1997 and 1998 season. This is a Grade 3 stakes run at a distance of 1 1/2 mile on a turf course inspired by European tracks that are shaped as a kidney. The Kentucky Turf Cup is for thoroughbreds aged three years and older with three-year-olds racing at a weight of 118 pounds and older horses racing at 122 pounds.
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* REMINDER! - you must be of legal age in your state or province to legally wager on thoroughbred or harness horse racing. Please bet responsibly!
Kentucky Turf Cup Betting Odds
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2016 Kentucky Turf Cup Contenders
Coming into the race with three straight victories, Da Big Hoss (7-5) is both the defending Kentucky Turf Cup champion and a solid favorite to defend his title. A winner of four out of five starts this year, he was last seen winning the (G2) St. Leger at Arlington after taking the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational. This race at 1 1/2 miles is actually a cut back in distance from those two, and the only issue might be how long it takes Da Big Hoss to get rolling so that he can get up in time. Greengrassofwyoming (7-2) had been toiling in the allowance ranks before stepping up to win the (G3) Stars and Stripes Stakes in what was close to race-record time. He then took on a world-class field in the (G1) Arlington Million where he was fourth. A duplicate effort puts him in contention here. Most of the others in here have yet to win at the graded-stakes level, but Power Foot (6-1) at least has extensive experience running at this level, as he'll be making his 13th graded-stakes start lifetime.
Entries and ML Odds
1) Run Tum Tugger (30-1)
2) Bullards Alley (10-1)
3) Seve's Road (6-1)
4) Life's Journey (8-1)
5) Behesht (10-1)
6) Power Foot (6-1)
7) Da Big Hoss (7-5)
8) Verger (50-1)
9) Greengrassofwyoming (7-2)
Did you know?
As the only graded race of the Kentucky Downs racing season, The Kentucky Turf Cup is the most prestigious event of this track's calendar. This event is a tuneup for the Breeders' Cup, offering a glimpse into the strength of potential BC Turf runners. In addition to its status as a Grade 3 race, the Kentucky Turf Cup is also the richest race at its track, with a hefty purse of $600,000, bolstering the importance of this competition.
Only one horse has won this race twice, when Rochester achieved this feat during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. For his second win, Rochester moved into first place after Art Variety was disqualified for interference. Despite interference from the penalized horse, Rochester actually bettered his time by almost seven seconds. Two jockeys have won twice; Shane Sellers won in 1994 and 1999 while Eddie Martin Jr rode Rochester for both victories. The record for the Kentucky Turf Cup was set in 2007, featuring General Jumbo setting a course-best time of 2:26.98. The prize money for this event has risen considerably over recent years, quadrupling from $150,000 in 2011 to its current purse.