The Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2) is one of the jewels of the Kentucky Downs meet, offering a massive $2 million purse and serving as one of the premier long-distance turf events in the country. Run at 1 ½ miles on the unique, undulating Kentucky Downs course, the race demands more than just talent; it requires stamina, adaptability, and often a touch of racing luck.
The 2025 renewal has drawn another deep and competitive field, including the defending champion, a proven graded stakes winner, and several hard-knocking runners who love to grind out these marathon distances. For horseplayers, this sets up perfectly for exotic wagers, which can provide significant payouts when structured around the right mix of contenders and prices.
Exotic wagers: exactas, trifectas, and superfectas allow bettors to leverage their opinions on multiple horses at once. In a race like the Turf Cup, where the outcome is rarely straightforward, keying one or two horses while spreading underneath often yields a profitable ticket.
Kentucky Downs is especially known for chaos. Its European-style course with sweeping turns and a long stretch often leads to late-running closers getting involved, while pace horses sometimes find themselves struggling late. That unpredictability makes exotics particularly appealing, as bettors can cover several scenarios without breaking the bank.
One of the more intriguing players in the field is El Rezeen, a four-year-old by English Channel. He has been knocking on the door in graded company, and while his fifth in the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga may look uninspiring on paper, the effort was much stronger than it appears. The colt has shown that he can handle firm or yielding ground, and the 12-furlong distance looks right in his wheelhouse.
A minor equipment change, blinkers coming off, introduces a question, but it may also help him relax early before producing a bigger finish. With Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the mount, El Rezeen becomes a key horse to build exotic tickets around. He has the right combination of price and upside, and if he takes to the quirky Kentucky Downs layout, he could make a major statement.
Trainer Brian Knippenberg’s Mercante enters in strong form after winning the Arlington S. (G3) earlier this season. A gelded son of Gun Runner, Mercante has the tactical speed to stay in touch with the early leaders but is also capable of grinding away late. His prep at Ellis Park going a shorter distance was a smart move, tightening him up for this demanding 1 ½-mile trip.
Mercante has never tried this distance before, but his running style suggests he’ll handle it just fine. With Joseph Ramos back aboard, expect him to be forwardly placed, perhaps forcing the tempo before trying to carry his stamina to the wire. That kind of profile makes him dangerous both as a win threat and as an exotic must-use.
Few horses in this field offer more reliability than Tawny Port, who was third in this very race in 2024. The veteran son of Pioneerof the Nile hasn’t visited the winner’s circle in quite some time, but he has consistently been competitive in long turf routes. Just last week, he finished a solid second going over two miles at this same venue, showing that stamina is certainly no issue.
Trainer Miguel Clement has been on a hot streak this summer, and bringing Tawny Port back on short rest may prove a savvy move. With Manny Franco aboard, he’s unlikely to win but highly likely to hit the frame again, the exact kind of horse you want filling out trifectas and superfectas at double-digit odds.
The defending Turf Cup champion is back for more. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Grand Sonata nearly added another feather to his cap when finishing second in the Arlington Million (G1) last out. He has proven time and again that he thrives at Kentucky Downs, and that course affinity cannot be overlooked.
With Tyler Gaffalione back in the saddle, Grand Sonata brings both class and consistency to the table. While his price won’t be as appealing as others in the field, leaving him out of exotic tickets would be risky. He’s the type who could win outright, or at worst finish in the top three, making him a key inclusion in any serious wager.
Here’s a balanced approach to exotic plays for the Turf Cup:
The Turf Cup is rarely straightforward, and the 2025 edition is no exception. By centering tickets around El Rezeen while also respecting the proven class of Grand Sonata, the grinding style of Mercante, and the reliability of Tawny Port, bettors can approach the race with confidence.
The suggested exacta and trifecta plays are built for balance: they protect against the unpredictability of the Kentucky Downs surface while also providing upside if the value horse, El Rezeen, delivers. With deep fields and rich purses, Kentucky Downs has long been a playground for creative bettors, and the Turf Cup offers another perfect opportunity to turn sharp opinions into lucrative returns.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
