Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes Explained

Class:Grade III
Horse Race:Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes
Location:Turfway Park
Florence, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated:1994
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance: miles (9 furlongs)
Surface:Polytrack
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Three-year-olds and up
Weight:Stakes allowance
Purse:$300,000 (since 2023)

The Kentucky Cup Classic Stakesis a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older over a distance of miles on the polytrack track scheduled annually in late March at Turfway Park in the Cincinnati, Ohio suburb of Florence, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was held on September 24, 1994, and was won by the 1994 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winning Tabasco Cat. He was ridden by ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

The following year the event was held under handicap conditions.

In 1996 the event was upgraded to Grade III status.[1]

With the continual high purses which attracted quality runners the event was upgraded in 1999 to Grade II.[2]

With the support of WinStar Farm, this race was suspended in 2010 due to economic challenges, but returned in 2011 and held at a shorter distance of miles.[2]

On August 29, 2017, after having not been run since its "revival" in 2011 and losing its graded status, general manager Daniel "Chip" Bach announced the Kentucky Cup Classic would return once again in 2018. The race was run on the Spiral Stakes undercard in March.[3]

In 2020, Nun the Less, a gelding son of Candy Ride, became the first horse to win the race twice, having won it the first time the previous year. He also became the oldest horse to win the race, winning in 2020 at age 8.[4] Future Prospect, a son of Giant's Causeway's full-brother Freud, had previously been the oldest horse to win, having won in 2011 at age 7.[5]

In 2024 the event was upgraded back to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.[6]

Records

Time record
Margins

Most wins by a horse

Most wins by an owner
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes
align=center 2024Cellist align=center 6Luis SaezGeorge R. Arnold IICalumet Farmalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.33align=center $292,000 align=center III[7]
align=center 2023align=center 5John R. VelazquezJonathan ThomasWoodslane Farmalign=center milesalign=center 1:50.09align=center $299,600 align=center Listed[8]
align=center 2022King Cause align=center 7Manuel FrancoMichael J. MakerNice Guys Stablesalign=center milesalign=center 1:48.63align=center $247,500align=center Listed[9]
align=center 2021Visitant align=center 5Deshawn ParkerWilliam E. MoreyWilliamson Racing align=center milesalign=center 1:50.12align=center $139,700align=center Listed[10]
align=center 2020Nun the Less align=center 8Rodney A. PrescottCipriano ContrerasCrystal Racing Enterprises & Contreras Stable align=center milesalign=center 1:48.80align=center $140,700align=center [11]
align=center 2019Nun the Lessalign=center 7Walter De La CruzCipriano ContrerasCrystal Racing Enterprises & Contreras Stable align=center milesalign=center 1:50.79align=center $100,000align=center [12]
align=center 2018Camelot Kitten align=center 5Rafael M. HernandezMichael J. MakerKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramseyalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.76align=center $100,000align=center [13]
2012 - 2017Race not held
Kentucky Cup Stakes
align=center 2011Future Prospect7Edgar PradoDodson SkaggsDodson Skaggsalign=center milesalign=center 1:44.71align=center $169,999align=center II[14]
2010Race not held
Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes
align=center 2009Furthest Land4Garrett GomezMichael J. MakerKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramseyalign=center milesalign=center 1:48.41align=center $195,000 align=center II[15]
align=center 2008Zanjero4Shaun BridgmohanSteven M. Asmussenalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.27align=center $350,000 align=center II[16]
align=center 2007Hard Spun3Mario PinoJ. Larry JonesFox Hill Farmsalign=center milesalign=center 1:48.48align=center $402,500 align=center II[17]
align=center 2006Ball Four5Willie MartinezPatrick L. Bianconealign=center milesalign=center 1:48.29align=center $350,000 align=center II[18]
align=center 2005Shaniko4Rafael BejaranoTodd A. PletcherAaron & Marie Jonesalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.74align=center $342,500align=center II[19]
Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap
align=center 2004Roses in May4John R. VelazquezDale L. RomansKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramseyalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.13align=center $350,000align=center II[20]
align=center 2003Perfect Drift4Pat DayMurray W. JohnsonStonecrest Farmalign=center milesalign=center 1:50.43align=center $350,000align=center II[21]
align=center 2002Pure Prize4Mike E. SmithOgden Mills Phipps et al.align=center milesalign=center 1:51.24align=center $400,000align=center II[22]
align=center 2001Guided Tour5Larry MelanconNiall O'CallaghanMorton Finkalign=center milesalign=center 1:47.90align=center $400,000align=center II[23]
align=center 2000Captain Steve3Shane SellersBob BaffertMichael E. Pegramalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.95align=center $500,000align=center II[24]
align=center 1999Da Devil4Calvin BorelForrest KaelinHall, Case, Glasscock et al.align=center milesalign=center 1:50.54align=center $500,000align=center II[25]
align=center rowspan=21998 Silver Charm4Gary StevensBob BaffertBob & Beverly Lewisalign=center rowspan=2 milesalign=center rowspan=21:47.48align=center rowspan=2$500,000align=center rowspan=2III[26]
Wild Rush 4Pat DayPatrick B. ByrneStronach Stables
align=center 1997Semoran4Kent DesormeauxBob BaffertDonald R. Dizneyalign=center milesalign=center 1:50.54align=center $380,000align=center III[27]
align=center 1996Atticus4Corey NakataniRichard MandellaLa Presle Farmalign=center milesalign=center 1:47.43align=center $490,000align=center III[28]
align=center 1995Thunder Gulch3Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasMichael Taboralign=center milesalign=center 1:49.42align=center $396,000align=center Listed[29]
Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes
align=center 1994Tabasco Cat3Pat DayD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm & David P. Reynoldsalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.42align=center $376,000align=center Listed[30]
Legend:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: KENTUCKY CUP CLASSIC STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS. Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2023 . 25 December 2023.
  2. Web site: TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes . Equibase . 2023 . 25 December 2023.
  3. News: Turfway Moves Spiral Day, Updates Stakes Schedule. BloodHorse.com. 2017-08-29. en.
  4. News: Nun the Less Outruns Somelikeithotbrown in Kentucky Cup. BloodHorse.com. 2020-04-09. en.
  5. News: Future Prospect Caps Memorable Kentucky Cup. BloodHorse.com. 2020-04-09. en.
  6. Web site: Graded Stakes Committee Cuts Number of Graded Stakes; One race was elevated to a grade 1: the Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs. . 16 December 2023 . 25 December 2023 . Bloodhorse.com . Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
  7. Web site: 2024 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Listed) – (race 10) . Equibase . 23 March 2024 . 27 March 2024.
  8. Web site: 2023 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Listed) – (race 10) . Equibase . 25 March 2023 . 23 December 2023.
  9. Web site: 2022 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Listed) – (race 10) . Equibase . 2 April 2022 . 23 December 2023.
  10. Web site: 2021 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Listed) – (race 9) . Equibase . 27 March 2021 . 23 December 2023.
  11. Web site: 2020 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Black Type) – (race 9) . Equibase . 14 March 2020 . 23 December 2023.
  12. Web site: 2019 Kubota Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Black Type) – (race 9) . Equibase . 9 March 2019 . 23 December 2023.
  13. Web site: 2018 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Black Type) – (race 8) . Equibase . 17 March 2017 . 23 December 2023.
  14. Web site: 2011 WinStar Kentucky Cup Stakes (Grade II) – (race 10) . Equibase . 24 September 2011 . 23 December 2023.
  15. Web site: 2009 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Grade II) – (race 12) . Equibase . 26 September 2009 . 24 December 2023.
  16. Web site: 2008 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Grade II) – (race 10) . Equibase . 27 September 2008 . 24 December 2023.
  17. Web site: 2007 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Grade II) – (race 10) . Equibase . 29 September 2007 . 24 December 2023.
  18. Web site: 2006 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Grade II) – (race 8) . Equibase . 30 September 2006 . 24 December 2023.
  19. Web site: 2005 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Grade II) – (race 11) . Equibase . 17 September 2005 . 24 December 2023.
  20. Web site: 2004 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade II) – (race 11) . Equibase . 18 September 2004 . 24 December 2023.
  21. Web site: 2003 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade II) – (race 11) . Equibase . 13 September 2003 . 24 December 2023.
  22. Web site: 2002 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade II) – (race 13) . Equibase . 14 September 2002 . 24 December 2023.
  23. Web site: 2001 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade II) – (race 12) . Equibase . 22 September 2001 . 25 December 2023.
  24. Web site: 2000 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade II) – (race 10) . Equibase . 22 September 2000 . 25 December 2023.
  25. Web site: 1999 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade II) – (race 10) . Equibase . 25 September 1999 . 25 December 2023.
  26. Web site: 1998 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade III) – (race 10) . Equibase . 26 September 1998 . 25 December 2023.
  27. Web site: 1997 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade III) – (race 10) . Equibase . 13 September 1997 . 25 December 2023.
  28. Web site: 1996 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Grade III) – (race 10) . Equibase . 21 September 1996 . 25 December 2023.
  29. Web site: 1995 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (Listed) – (race 10) . Equibase . 23 September 1995 . 25 December 2023.
  30. Web site: 1994 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (Listed) – (race 10) . Equibase . 23 September 1994 . 25 December 2023.

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