Kentucky Turf Cup

Horse race

Kentucky Turf CupClass| Grade II

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Location| Kentucky Downs
Franklin, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated| 1990 (as Sam Houston Stakes)
Race type| Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Sponsor| FanDuel Racing (since 2023)
Website| Kentucky Downs
Race information
Distance| 1+1⁄2 miles
Surface| Turf
Track| Left-handed
Qualification| Three-year-olds and older
Weight| Base weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse| US$2,000,000 (since 2024)
Bonuses| Winner automatic entry into Breeders' Cup Turf

The Kentucky Turf Cup is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and up, over a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles on turf. It is held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky, during their brief turf racing meet. The event currently carries a purse of $2,000,000, which includes $1,000,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

## History

[edit]

The event was inaugurated on 22 April 1990 as the Sam Houston Stakes on the first ever meeting at the new track, then the Duelling Grounds Racecourse.[1] The race was in honor of Sam Houston, who took part in a duel on the site of where the racetrack is located near the border of Kentucky and Tennessee.[2] The following year, the event was renamed the Sam Houston Handicap, and conditions were changed to a handicap.[3][4]

In 1996 and 1997, the event was not held because the track was shut down and in bankruptcy proceedings.[5]

When the track reopened in 1998, the race was renamed the Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap as part of the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival. In 2001, the event was classified as a Grade III.[6]

In 2019, the purse was increased to $1,000,000.[6]

In 2021, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association upgraded the event to a Grade II.[7] For the 2021 running, Kentucky Downs renamed the event The Calumet Turf Cup, which Calumet Farm sponsors.[8] The event winner, Imperador, set a new track record for the distance of 2:25.70.[9]

## Records

[edit]

Speed record

* 1+1⁄2 miles: 2:24.93 – Grand Sonata (2024) (new track record)

Margins

* 6+3⁄4 lengths – Silverfoot (2005)

Most wins

* 2 – Rochester (2002, 2003)
* 2 – Da Big Hoss (2015, 2016)
* 2 – Arklow (2018, 2020)

Most wins by an owner

* 2 – Augustin Stable (2002, 2003)
* 2 – Robert E. Courtney Jr. (2011, 2012)
* 2 – Skychia Racing (2015, 2016)
* 2 – Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger & Peter Coneway (2018, 2020)

Most wins by a jockey

* 4 – Florent Geroux (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020)

Most wins by a trainer

* 5 – Michael J. Maker (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022)

## Winners

[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Age  | Jockey  | Trainer  | Owner  | Distance  | Time  | Purse  | Grade  | Ref

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Kentucky Turf Cup
2024  | Grand Sonata  | 5  | Tyler Gaffalione | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:24.93  | $1,995,000  | II  | [10]
2023  | Get Smokin  | 6  | Fernando De La Cruz  | Mark E. Casse | Ironhorse Racing Stable, BlackRidge Stables, T-N-T Equine Holdings & Saratoga Seven Racing Partners  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:28.66  | $1,675,429  | II  | [11]
2022  | Red Knight  | 8  | Gerardo Corrales  | Michael J. Maker | Trinity Farm  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:26.96  | $694,180  | II  | [12]
Calumet Turf Cup
2021  | Imperador (ARG)  | 5  | Joseph Talamo | Paulo Lobo  | Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:25.10  | $715,105  | II  | [9]
Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes
2020  | Arklow  | 6  | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger & Peter Coneway  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:28.66  | $910,000  | III  | [13]
2019  | Zulu Alpha | 6  | Jose L. Ortiz | Michael J. Maker | Michael M. Hui  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:28.62  | $986,500  | III  | [14]
2018  | Arklow  | 4  | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger & Peter Coneway  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:30.56  | $746,500  | III  | [15]
2017  | Oscar Nominated  | 4  | Julien R. Leparoux | Michael J. Maker | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:31.37  | $594,000  | III  | [16]
2016  | Da Big Hoss  | 5  | Florent Geroux | Michael J. Maker | Skychai Racing (Harvey Diamond & Jim Shircliff)  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:35.08  | $594,180  | III  | [17]
2015  | Da Big Hoss  | 4  | Joseph Rocco Jr.  | Michael J. Maker | Skychai Racing (Harvey Diamond & Jim Shircliff)  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:33.40  | $600,000  | III  | [18]
2014  | Suntracer  | 6  | Florent Geroux | Chris M. Block  | Team Block  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:27.12  | $347,400  | III  | [19]
2013  | Temeraine  | 4  | Gary L. Stevens | Thomas F. Proctor | Niall Racing (Timothy B. & Patrick F. Turney)  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:29.18  | $399,000  | III  | [20]
2012  | Ioya Bigtime  | 8  | Jeffrey Sanchez  | Chris M. Block  | Robert E. Courtney Jr.  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:30.06  | $200,000  | III  | [21]
2011  | Rahystrada  | 7  | Greta Kuntzweiler  | Byron G. Hughes  | Robert E. Courtney Jr.  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:32.40  | $150,000  | III  | [22]
2010  | Rezif  | 5  | Greta Kuntzweiler  | Matthew Jacobson  | Donald Sexton, Matthew Jacobson & Thomas Baughman  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:44.74  | $150,000  | III  | [23]
2009  | Cloudy's Knight | 9  | Rosemary Homeister Jr. | Jonathan E. Sheppard | S J Stables (Shirley & Jerrold Schwartz)  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:33.96  | $150,000  | III  | [24]
2008  | Rumor Has It  | 7  | Eduardo E. Perez  | David H. Hinsley  | William S. Patterson & James F. Glenn  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:28.27  | $200,000  | III  | [25]
2007  | General Jumbo (GB) | 5  | Jeremy Rose | H. Graham Motion | Thomas Conway  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:26.98  | $200,000  | III  | [26]
2006  | Embossed (IRE) | 4  | Larry Melancon | Niall M. O'Callaghan  | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:36.92  | $200,000  | III  | [27]
2005  | Silverfoot  | 5  | Rafael Bejarano | Dallas Stewart | Chrysalis Stables (Stephanie S. Clark)  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:30.30  | $200,000  | III  | [28]
Kentucky Turf Cup Handicap
2004  | Sabiango (GER) | 6  | Brice Blanc | Tim Yakteen  | Monty Roberts | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:33.70  | $200,000  | III  | [29]
2003  | † Rochester  | 7  | Eddie Martin Jr.  | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:31.39  | $200,000  | III  | [30]
2002  | Rochester  | 6  | Eddie Martin Jr.  | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:38.28  | $300,000  | III  | [31]
2001  | Chorwon  | 8  | Jon Court | Hal R. Wiggins  | Phoebe Ann Mueller  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:28.68  | $300,000  | III  | [32]
2000  | Down the Aisle  | 7  | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Charles H. Deters  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:27.70  | $300,000  | Listed  | [33]
1999  | Fahris (IRE) | 5  | Shane Sellers | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:29.60  | $300,000  | Listed  | [34]
1998  | Yaqthan (IRE) | 8  | Brian Dale Peck  | Anthony L. Reinstedler | Merdonmar Stable (Sheikh Abdullah Majid Al Qasin)  | 1+1⁄2 miles  | 2:27.60  | $300,000  | Listed  | [35]
1996–1997  | Race not held
Sam Houston Handicap
1995  | Lassigny  | 4  | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer | abt. 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.60  | $250,000  | Listed  | [36]
1994  | Lindon Lime  | 4  | Shane Sellers | W. Elliott Walden | Frank ManseII  | abt. 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.40  | $300,000  | Listed  | [37]
1993  | Know Heights (IRE) | 4  | Kent Desormeaux | Robert B. Hess Jr.  | Mike H. Sloan, et al.  | abt. 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:25.60  | $300,000  | Listed  | [38]
1992  | Drummer Boy  | 4  | Garrett Gomez | Dennis W. Ebert  | Elise M. Ebert & Eleanore Cohen  | abt. 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:28.40  | $300,000  | Listed  | [39]
1991  | Silver Medallion  | 5  | Craig Perret | Philip M. Hauswald  | John A. Franks | abt. 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.30  | $200,000  | Listed  | [3]
1990  | Slow Fuse  | 6  | Randy P. Romero | J. Bert Sonnier | Saron Stable  | abt. 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:33.60  | $250,000  |  | [1]

Notes:
† In the 2003 running, Art Variety was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and placed third. Rochester was declared the winner.

## See also

[edit]

List of American and Canadian Graded races

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Romero stands up early, but Slow Fuse recovers for Sam Houston victory (1990 Sam Houston Stakes – race 4: held 22 April 1990)". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. 23 April 1990. pp. 6, 10. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
2. ^ Talbott, Tim (2020). "Noted Dueling Ground/Sanford Duncan Inn". Kentucky Historical Society. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
3. ^ a b "1991 Sam Houston Handicap Listed - (race 6)". Equibase. 21 April 1991. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
4. ^ "KENTUCKY TURF CUP STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
5. ^ "From 'Ant Hills' To Upping The Ante: The History Of Kentucky Downs". Paullick Report. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
6. ^ a b "Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
7. ^ Schweigardt, Andrew (2021). "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2021". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
8. ^ "2021 Kentucky Downs Condition Book". equibase. Kentucky Downs. 2021. p. 12. Retrieved 11 August 2021. "FIFTH DAY -- Saturday, September 11, 2021 Eighth Race The 30th Running of The Calumet Turf Cup "Win and You're In Breeders' Cup Turf" $1,000,000 Grade II"
9. ^ a b "2021 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
10. ^ "2024 Fan Duel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
11. ^ "2023 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 2 - (race 12)". Equibase. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
12. ^ "2022 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
13. ^ "2020 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
14. ^ "2019 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
15. ^ "2018 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
16. ^ "2017 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
17. ^ "2016 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
18. ^ "2015 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
19. ^ "2014 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
20. ^ "2013 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
21. ^ "2012 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
22. ^ "2011 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
23. ^ "2010 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 13)". Equibase. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
24. ^ "2009 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 13)". Equibase. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
25. ^ "2008 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 15)". Equibase. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
26. ^ "2007 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
27. ^ "2006 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 26 September 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
28. ^ "2005 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. 24 September 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
29. ^ "2004 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
30. ^ "2003 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. 20 September 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
31. ^ "2002 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
32. ^ "2001 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. 23 September 2001. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
33. ^ "2000 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 14)". Equibase. 23 September 2000. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
34. ^ "1999 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 11)". Equibase. 26 September 1999. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
35. ^ "1998 Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 11)". Equibase. 19 September 1998. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
36. ^ "1995 Sam Houston Handicap Listed - (race 5)". Equibase. 24 September 1995. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
37. ^ "1994 Sam Houston Handicap Listed - (race 3)". Equibase. 25 September 1994. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
38. ^ "1993 Sam Houston Handicap Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 September 1993. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
39. ^ "1992 Sam Houston Handicap Listed - (race 6)". Equibase. 11 October 1992. Retrieved 12 September 2020.