Exotics Plays for the Kentucky Cup Classic

A dozen will go postward in a nice rendition of the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) at Turfway Park on Saturday. This race has exotics wagers written all over it. I can make a case for three-quarters of the contenders in the field, but I’ll put a trio of horses in the top slot and work my way down from there. 

Kentucky Cup Exotics

$1 exacta 2,5,12 with all ($33)

$.50-cent trifecta 2,5,12 with 1,2,3,5,8,12 with 1,2,3,5,8,12 ($30)

20-cent superfecta 12 with 2,5 with 1,2,3,5,8,12 with ($18)

Wesley Ward’s #12 Funtastic Again rolled home to a facile allowance victory in his seasonal debut on the oval and has posted a trio of dominant wins on the oval from four local tries to date. The son of Funtastic was flattered when the horse that was second to him last time came back to post a pair of stakes wins in succession. The chestnut colt has good early speed and will receive a nice trip from the second flight early on while clear throughout under Gerardo Corrales. 

#5 Cellist has missed by a head bob in the last two editions of the Prairie Bayou S. on the course and seems destined to break through with a signature win. This Big Blue Kitten gelding has been in solid form, with the exception of one race, since December of 2022 and will be forwardly placed early on with Luis Saez taking the reins. 

And #2 Verstappen was runner-up in the contest last campaign and always runs pretty well, whether it’s on the turf or all-weather. The Brendan Walsh trainee cuts back in distance, which I think is a good thing, and he should be ready to roll following a pair of positive morning drills in advance of Saturday. This War Front five-year-old has enough tactical speed to stay in touch around the back side while saving ground under Declan Cannon. 

Dust Commander romper #1 Surly Furious, defending champ #3 Wolfie’s Dynaghost, and 2023 Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) star #8 Atone, will be included in the lower rungs of the exotics, as well.