The $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G3), now sponsored by TwinSpires, was inaugurated in the fall of 1994 and won that year by the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Tabasco Cat, who captured both the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) earlier that year.
Other standout runners have taken top honors over the years, including Thunder Gulch (1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner); Silver Charm (1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner) in a notable dead heat with millionaire Wild Rush; Hard Spun (2007 Kentucky Derby runner-up), and more recently multiple winners like Nun the Less (2019-2020), Visitant (2021), King Cause (2022), Wolfie’s Dynaghost (2023), Cellist (2024), and defending champion Mercante (2025).
It was initially contested on Turfway’s dirt surface but switched to synthetic when Turfway installed Tapeta in 2005, and it has been revived after several suspensions and breaks, regaining Grade 3 status in recent years.
Wadsworth (3-1) is the lukewarm morning line favorite and carries some impressive connections as a Godolphin homebred trained by Brad Cox. The 6-year-old Quality Road gelding is a strong synthetic/Turfway performer with multiple wins at the track and a decent second in allowance company here three weeks ago as a prep for this race in what was his first start after sitting out all of 2025. He tends to stalk or sit mid-pack before closing on the pace. His return from the layoff makes him dangerous with top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.
Mercante (7-2) is the defending champion who is also 3-for-4 lifetime over the Turfway track. The 6-year-old Gun Runner gelding likes an early position near the pace or pressing it, waiting for the frontrunners to tire to take over. The Brian Knippenberg trainee also won the Arlington Stakes (G3) at Churchill last spring and ran competitively in graded turf routes like a second in the Turf Classic and third in the River City Stakes. He’s been off since November, but has been solid off layoffs historically, and he’s a major threat to repeat if fit. Walter Rodriguez will ride.
Willy D’s is a 5-year-old Lookin At Lucky gelding who was second in last year’s Charles Town Classic (G2), and though primarily a dirt router (23 of 25 starts), he has shown he’s capable of adapting to surface changes as he has a turf win in his career, too. The Mike Maker trainee is also versatile in running style and could press or stalk early with a clean break under jockey John Velazquez. If he handles the synthetic switch, he will be tough and a legit contender for a large share of the purse.
Honor Marie (5-2) is a Grade 2 winner and a Kentucky Derby runner (eighth in 2024) who has no early speed but more than makes up for it with his explosive late moves, as shown in a sharp prep 4½-length win in the Dust Commander Stakes here on Feb. 14 as a prep for this race. From the rail, he’ll need a clean trip to rally, but his closing kick makes him live for a piece or upset. Joe Ramos rides for trainer Whit Beckman.
Utah Beach (6-1) is a 6-year-old English Channel gelding and multiple graded stakes winner, including the Louisville S. (G3) and Elkhorn Stakes (G2) last year. A bona fide closer, he often unleashes powerful late rallies after settling well off the speed in the early going and is expected to get the pace here, where he likes to run down under jockey Vincent Cheminaud.
Returning from an October layoff with a barn switch to Brendan Walsh after trainer Ignacio Correas’s retirement, he finished fourth in last year’s renewal to Mercante but has rebound potential with solid turf/all-weather form.
Tickled Quist (8-1) is trainer Brad Cox’s other runner here, and the 4-year-old Nyquist colt is a confirmed front-runner/stalker who wired back-to-back allowance wins at Turfway recently, proving he clearly thrives on the Tapeta surface. He could set or press a moderate pace under jockey Fernado De La Cruz, benefiting from an inside stalking position in his stakes debut.
Tapit Shoes (8-1) is coming off a Feb. 27 allowance win and posted some impressive speed and pace figures. He could close strongly from mid-pack, marking him as a live longshot for exotics for trainer Steve Moser and jockey Luis Contreras.
Endlessly (12-1) won the 2024 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) here for trainer Michael McCarthy in what was his last win, and the son of Oscar Performance has struggled in recent turf tries. Back at the scene of his biggest career win, he could rebound at this 9-furlong distance on synthetic, where he’s likely to find his preferred trip either racing mid-pack or closing under jockey Kazushi Kimura.
Naptown (20-1) is well-traveled and has hit the board in recent routes across tracks but appears outclassed here. He is a deep closer or trailer with limited upside beyond exotics filler.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | M/L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honor Marie | J D Ramos | D Beckman | 5/1 | |
| 2 | Utah Beach | V Cheminaud | B P Walsh | 6/1 | |
| 3 | Naptown | V R Carrasco | J J Magana | 20/1 | |
| 4 | Tickled Quist | F De La Cruz | B H Cox | 8/1 | |
| 5 | Willy D's | J R Velazquez | M J Maker | 9/2 | |
| 6 | Tapit Shoes | L Contreras | E Moger, Jr. | 8/1 | |
| 7 | Endlessly | K Kimura | M W McCarthy | 12/1 | |
| 8 | Wadsworth | I Ortiz, Jr. | B H Cox | 3/1 | |
| 9 | Mercante | W A Rodriguez | B Knippenberg | 7/2 |
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.
