Kentucky Turf Cup 2023: Odds, preview, Saturday stakes, more

A seven-figure purse and a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf are on the line Saturday on the north side of the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.

Therapist is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the Grade 2, $1.3 million Kentucky Turf Cup. An additional $400,000 is available for Kentucky-bred runners such as Verstappen (9-2), the third choice on the morning line.

Post time from Franklin, Ky. is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT. FanDuel TV will show the 1 1/2-mile turf event for 3-and-up runners who will hope to qualify for November’s world championships at Santa Anita.

Trainer Mike Maker has saddled a record five Kentucky Turf Cup winners, including 2022 victor Red Knight. He saddles that one Saturday, plus favorite Therapist and Me and Mr. C (10-1).

Therapist was made the slight morning-line favorite over his fellow New York-bred stablemate Red Knight (4-1) after winning the United Nations Stakes (G1) on July 22 at Monmouth Park. Jockey Javier Castellano rides the 8-year-old Freud gelding, who owner Michael Dubb campaigns for Maker.

Red Knight is also a Grade 1 winner, with his top-level score coming May 13 at Belmont Park in the Man o’ War Stakes (G1). He was third in the United Nations, finishing 2 1/4 lengths shy of Therapist.

Verstappen won Keeneland’s Elkhorn Stakes (G2) in April for trainer Brendan Walsh. He has not won in three starts since but was second July 30 at Saratoga in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2).

Dual Grade 1 winner Santin (5-1) is another entry for the Kentucky-based Walsh. He was second Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1), a race he won last year at Churchill Downs.

Never Explain (8-1), a Grade 3 winner, was fourth in the Arlington Million for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Here is a look at the field for the 2023 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Foreign Relations (Conor Murphy, John Velazquez), 12-1

2. Red Knight (Mike Maker, Tyler Gaffalione), 4-1

3. Verstappen (Brendan Walsh, Declan Cannon), 9-2

4. Santin (Brendan Walsh, Florent Geroux), 5-1

5. Get Smokin (Mark Casse, Fernando De La Cruz), 15-1

6. Me and Mr. C (Mike Maker, Gerardo Corrales), 10-1

7. Kitodan (Eric Foster, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 12-1

8. Never Explain (Shug McGaughey, Joel Rosario), 8-1

9. Nautilus (Paulo Lobo, Joe Talamo), 30-1

10. Another Mystery (Chris Block, Brian Hernandez Jr.), 30-1

11. Therapist (Mike Maker, Javier Castellano), 7-2

12. Spooky Channel (Jason Barkley, James Graham), 20-1

AE, 13. Sy Dog (Graham Motion, Jareth Loveberry), 20-1

AE, 14. Cellist (Rusty Arnold, Martin Garcia), 10-1

AE, 15. Highest Honors (Chad Brown, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 8-1

AE, 16. Red Run (Mike Maker, Vincent Cheminaud), 20-1

TimeformUS pace projections show long shot Get Smokin showing the lead under jockey Fernando De La Cruz. Favorite Therapist is projected to make his rally from the back.

Other Saturday stakes

Here is a look at other graded stakes taking place Saturday across North America. All post times are EDT and races may be seen on FanDuel TV.

1:40 p.m. – $600,000 Ladies Marathon Stakes (G3), 3-and-up fillies and mares, 1 5/16 miles (turf), Kentucky Downs

Vergara (2-1), a Kentucky Downs stakes winner last year for trainer Graham Motion, settled for fifth Aug. 5 in Saratoga’s Glens Falls Stakes (G2). Jockey Joel Rosario gets the call on the 4-year-old Noble Mission filly. Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Transient (3-1), who comes north off a July 15 victory at Gulfstream Park in the Powder Break Stakes. Personal Best (3-1), a Grade 3 victor, was fifth July 22 at Monmouth Park in the Matchmaker Stakes (G3) for trainer Shug McGaughey.

4:40 p.m. – $600,000 Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G2), 3-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Kentucky Downs

Mo Stash (4-1), winner of Keeneland’s Transylvania Stakes (G3) in April, ran sixth Aug. 12 at Colonial in the Secretariat Stakes (G2). Jockey Rafael Bejarano will be up on the Mo Town colt for trainer Vicki Oliver. Steve Asmussen trains Private Creed (9-2), another Keeneland stakes winner who was runner-up Aug. 13 at Saratoga in the Mahony Stakes. Sweet Cherry Pie (5-1) aims to make the grade after winning Monmouth’s My Frenchman Stakes on July 16 for trainer Rusty Arnold.

4:48 p.m. – $150,000 (about U.S. $110,000) Singspiel Stakes (G3), 3-and-up, 1 1/4 miles (turf), Woodbine

Rockemperor (2-1), a Grade 1 winner for trainer Chad Brown, has been off the board in five straight starts, including a sixth-place run Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1). Jockey Kazushi Kimura will ride the 7-year-old Holy Roman Emperor gelding. Mark Casse trains Palazzi (5-2), who climbs the class ladder off a local allowance win July 16. Woodbine stakes winner British Royalty (4-1) was fourth Aug. 23 at Saratoga in the John’s Call Stakes for trainer Barbara Minshall.

5:16 p.m. – $600,000 Ladies Turf Stakes (G3), 3-and-up fillies and mares, one mile (turf), Kentucky Downs

White Frost (9-5), a Grade 3 victor dating to 2021, was runner-up Aug. 2 at Saratoga in the De La Rose Stakes. Trainer Bill Mott and Rosario team up with the 5-year-old Candy Ride mare. Brendan Walsh trains Grade 2 winner New Year’s Eve (5-2), who enters off an Ellis Park stakes win Aug. 6. Regal Realm (3-1) was third in the De La Rose for trainer Jonathan Thomas.

5:54 p.m. – $600,000 Turf Sprint Stakes (G2), 3-and-up, six furlongs (turf), Kentucky Downs

Cogburn (4-1) enters this Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint qualifier on a three-race win streak for Asmussen. Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on the 4-year-old Not This Time colt, who won Saratoga’s Troy Stakes (G3) on Aug. 5. Larry Rivelli trains One Timer (9-2), the 2022 Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero who took an Ellis stakes race Aug. 6. Nobals (5-1), another Rivelli-trained Grade 2 winner, was second in the Troy behind Cogburn.

5:56 p.m. – $200,000 (about U.S. $146,000) Canadian Stakes (G2), 3-and-up fillies and mares, about 1 1/8 miles (turf), Woodbine

Fev Rover (8-5), the defending winner of this race, earned top-level honors Aug. 12 at Colonial in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1). Casse has tabbed jockey Patrick Husbands to pilot the 5-year-old Gutaifan mare. Neil Drysdale trains Miss Dracarys (5-2), whose three straight victories include the local Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) on Aug. 20. 2022 Queen’s Plate winner Moira (3-1) was second in the Dance Smartly, one length behind Miss Dracarys.

6:20 p.m. – $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3), 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles (turf), Colonial Downs

Program Trading (7-2) is off to a 3-for-3 start to his career for Brown, including a Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1) triumph Aug. 5. Jockey Flavien Prat is in Virginia to ride the 3-year-old Lope de Vega ridgling. Brad Cox trains Salute the Stars (4-1), who switches to the lawn after coming home seventh July 22 at Monmouth in the Haskell Stakes (G1). Mondego (5-1) was seventh in the Saratoga Derby for trainer Christophe Clement.

6:30 p.m. – $600,000 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G2), 3-and-up fillies and mares, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), Kentucky Downs

Bay Storm (9-5) prepped for this race by winning a stakes race Aug. 5 at Ellis for Thomas’s barn. Jockey Florent Geroux has the call on the 5-year-old Kantharos mare. Mott trains Wakanaka (4-1), a Grade 2 winner who was second July 22 at Saratoga in the Caress Stakes (G3). The Paulo Lobo-trained Quaria Comet (5-1) was second to Bay Storm last out at Ellis.

7:29 p.m. – $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2), 3-and-up fillies and mares, 1 1/8 miles (turf), Del Mar

Closing Remarks (9-5) tries to close the Del Mar meet with a second win of the stand after also scoring Aug. 12 in the local Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2). Jockey Umberto Rispoli will get a leg up on the 5-year-old Vronsky mare for trainer Carla Gaines. Leonard Powell trains Neige Blanche (5-2), a multiple Grade 3 victor who was third Aug. 18 at Del Mar in the CTT and TOC Stakes. Turnerloose (5-2), the 2022 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) winner on dirt, was fifth in the Yellow Ribbon for trainer Phil D’Amato.

8:59 p.m. – $300,000 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1), 2-year-old fillies, seven furlongs, Del Mar

Tamara (7-2) climbs from maiden flight to Grade 1 company after winning her local debut Aug. 19 by 2 1/4 lengths. Jockey Mike Smith stays aboard the Bolt d’Oro filly for trainer Richard Mandella. O.J. Jauregui trains Dreamfyre (4-1), who prepped for this event by winning Del Mar’s Sorrento Stakes (G3) on Aug. 12. Julias Dream (5-1) was a local debut winner Aug. 6 for trainer Michael McCarthy.