The Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older over a distance of miles on the Tapeta 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.
With the continual high purses which attracted quality runners the event was upgraded in 1999 to Grade II.
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.
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.
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. 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.
In 2024 the event was upgraded back to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Records Time record 1:47.43 - Atticus (1996)
Margins 17 lengths – Silver Charm and Wild Rush (1998)
Most wins by a horse 2 - Nun the Less (2019, 2020)
Most wins by an owner 3 - Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey (2004, 2009, 2018)
Most wins by a jockey 3 - Pat Day (1994, 1998, 2003) 3 - John R. Velazquez (2004, 2023, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer 4 - Michael J. Maker (2009, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefKentucky Cup Classic Stakes2026Willy D's5John R. VelazquezMichael J. MakerParadise Farm miles1:50.88$295,000III2025Mercante 5Joseph RamosBrian KnippenbergCarl F. Pollard miles1:49.08 $290,000 III 2024Cellist 6Luis SaezGeorge R. Arnold IICalumet Farm miles1:49.33 $292,000 III 20235John R. VelazquezJonathan ThomasWoodslane Farm miles1:50.09$299,600 Listed 2022King Cause 7Manuel FrancoMichael J. MakerNice Guys Stables miles1:48.63$247,500Listed 2021Visitant 5Deshawn ParkerWilliam E. MoreyWilliamson Racing miles1:50.12$139,700Listed 2020Nun the Less 8Rodney A. PrescottCipriano ContrerasCrystal Racing Enterprises & Contreras Stable miles1:48.80$140,700 2019Nun the Less7Walter De La CruzCipriano ContrerasCrystal Racing Enterprises & Contreras Stable miles1:50.79$100,0002018Camelot Kitten 5Rafael M. HernandezMichael J. MakerKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey miles1:49.76$100,0002012–2017Race not heldKentucky Cup Stakes2011Future Prospect7Edgar PradoDodson SkaggsDodson Skaggs miles1:44.71 $169,999 II2010Race not heldKentucky Cup Classic Stakes2009Furthest Land4Garrett GomezMichael J. MakerKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey miles1:48.41$195,000 II2008Zanjero4Shaun BridgmohanSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds miles1:49.27$350,000 II2007Hard Spun3Mario PinoJ. Larry JonesFox Hill Farms miles1:48.48$402,500 II2006Ball Four5Willie MartinezPatrick L. BianconeDerrick Smith & Michael Tabor miles1:48.29$350,000 II2005Shaniko4Rafael BejaranoTodd A. PletcherAaron & Marie Jones miles1:49.74$342,500 IIKentucky Cup Classic Handicap2004Roses in May4John R. VelazquezDale L. RomansKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey miles1:49.13$350,000 II2003Perfect Drift4Pat DayMurray W. JohnsonStonecrest Farm miles1:50.43$350,000 II2002Pure Prize4Mike E. SmithOgden Mills Phipps et al. miles1:51.24$400,000 II2001Guided Tour5Larry MelanconNiall O'CallaghanMorton Fink miles1:47.90$400,000 II2000Captain Steve3Shane SellersBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram miles1:49.95$500,000 II1999Da Devil4Calvin BorelForrest KaelinHall, Case, Glasscock et al. miles1:50.54$500,000 II1998 Silver Charm4Gary StevensBob BaffertBob & Beverly Lewis miles1:47.48$500,000 IIIWild Rush 4Pat DayPatrick B. ByrneStronach Stables1997Semoran4Kent DesormeauxBob BaffertDonald R. Dizney miles1:50.54$380,000 III1996Atticus4Corey NakataniRichard MandellaLa Presle Farm miles1:47.43$490,000 III1995Thunder Gulch3Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor miles1:49.42$396,000 ListedKentucky Cup Classic Stakes1994Tabasco Cat3Pat DayD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm & David P. Reynolds miles1:49.42$376,000 Listed
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
External links Official website for Turfway Park Kentucky Cup Stakes restored by WinStar Farm
References