Expert prediction
Kentucky Turf Cup Picks — Breeders’ Cup Turf Hero Back in Action Stateside (Sep 5)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- When: Saturday, September 5, 2026 @ 4:56 PM ET
- Where: Kentucky Downs, Kentucky
- How to Watch: FanDuel TV
A reigning Breeders’ Cup champion headlined the betting at Kentucky Downs this Saturday, as Ethical Diamond makes his return to U.S. action when he lines up in the Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes at Kentucky Downs. However, Burnham Square could be the runner at the top of the betting with the best horse racing betting sites. You can find the latest odds and our Kentucky Turf Cup picks here.
Kentucky Turf Cup Odds
| Horse (Draw) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tiffany (1) | +450 |
| Desvio (2) | +3300 |
| Dresden Row (3) | +1200 |
| Eff Thirty Five (4) | +3300 |
| Layabout (5) | +2500 |
| Ethical Diamond (6) | +250 |
| Burnham Square (7) | +187 |
| Ole Crazy Bone (8) | +900 |
| Echo Lane (9) | +3300 |
| Fort George (10) | +800 |
Latest odds taken from an Offshore Sportsbook. BetOnline markets open on the day of the race.
Race Information & Records
| Stat | Information |
|---|---|
| Race Distance | 1 1/2 Miles |
| Purse | $2,000,000 |
| Most Successful Trainer | Michael Maker (6) |
| Most Successful Jockey | Florent Geroux (4) |
ALSO SEE: Premier League 2026/27: Our Experts Make Their Winner, Relegation, and Top Scorer Picks
Kentucky Turf Cup: Recent Winners
- 2025– Ole Crazy Bone (Flavien Prat/Michael Maker)
- 2024– Grand Sonata (Tyler Gaffalione/Todd Pletcher)
- 2023– Get Smokin (Fernando De La Cruz/Mark Casse)
- 2022– Red Knight (Gerardo Corrales/Michael Maker)
- 2021– Imperador (Joseph Talamo/Paulo Lobo)
Kentucky Turf Cup: Betting Preview
An excellent weekend of horse racing action is set for Kentucky Downs this Saturday, with a world-class field set to go to post for the Kentucky Turf Cup, which is a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. A distance of 1 1/2 miles will be covered by the field, which includes last year’s BC Turf champion, Ethical Diamond.
The Willie Mullins star bounced back to winning ways on his latest outing, holding off Green Impact to land the G3 Ballyroan Stakes. Ethical Diamond was a sensational winner of the Turf at Del Mar last year, following up victories in the Ebor Handicap and Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. He has been below that same level this term, but Mullins is a master trainer who can get any horse to peak when it is required.
Burnham Square looks like the most serious challenger this weekend for the Ian Wilkes yard. The four-year-old has been excellent this season, racking up four straight wins, which includes two victories over this weekend’s distance in the G2 Elkhorn and G3 Louisville. This is a step up in opposition, but he handles Kentucky Downs after finishing within a head of Wimbledon Hawkeye in last year’s Nashville Derby.
Desvio, Layabout, and Echo Lane all have questions to answer at this level after recent below par showings. Meanwhile, Ole Crazy Bone shouldn’t be overlooked after winning this race 12 months ago. Fort George is also an interesting international raider for the Ed Walker team.
The four-year-old was only narrowly beaten by Ole Crazy Bone in the G2 Bowling Green Stakes, but this step back up to a mile and four should suit after finishing within a length of Rebel’s Romance on his previous start over this distance in the G2 Dubai City of Gold.
Kentucky Turf Cup Picks
This is a major opportunity for Burnham Square to prove his quality in a deep field, and he should have the form lines and previous course experience to win the race.
However, at the prices, Fort George is very interesting based on the form shown behind Rebel’s Romance in Dubai when runner-up and within a length of the winner in the G2 Dubai City of Gold. He has shown plenty of ability throughout his career on fast ground, including winning at Newbury in August and finishing a fast-traveling third in the Cambridgeshire Handicap.
He looks more suited to longer distances, and his American debut last month, when finishing a nose behind Ole Crazy Bone in the G2 Bowling Green, should have him perfect for this challenge. Lightly raced Tiffany could complete the Exacta for Sir Mark Prescott, having failed to finish outside of the first two on six occasions over a mile and four since August 2024. She finally got a first win over the distance in a German Group One last month.
Free Pick:
Horse Racing
More Predictions
Woodbine Picks Today: Best Bets for Saturday, Nov 7
Best bet: Lupa, Race 7 (+100 ML) Value pick: Ultimate Authority, Race 10 (+800 ML) Claim Your $25 Risk-Free Horse Racing Bet at BetOnline Every race day at Woodbine, we handicap the full card and give you a pick in every race, plus a best bet and a value selection the morning line might have […]
Belmont Park Picks Today: Best Bets for Saturday, Nov 7
Best bet: Ted Noffey, Race 8 (+160) Value pick: Iron Orchard, Race 9 (+1200) Claim Your $25 Risk-Free Horse Racing Bet at BetOnline A busy afternoon of horse racing action at Belmont Park is set for Saturday, November 7, with four stakes races on the ten-race program. We have handicapped all races at Belmont Park […]
Del Mar Picks Today: Best Bets for Friday, Nov 6
Best bet: Jodi Bear, Race 6 (+300 ML) Value pick: Private Gem, Race 2 (+300 ML) Claim Your $25 Risk-Free Horse Racing Bet at BetOnline Whether it’s the summer meet or the fall meet, Del Mar always brings big fields and plenty of turf racing, and that means value for anyone willing to do the […]
Churchill Downs Picks Today: Best Bets for Saturday, Nov 7
Best bet: Lambeth, Race 8 (+180 ML) Value pick: Poster, Race 6 (+300 ML) Claim Your $25 Risk-Free Horse Racing Bet at BetOnline Every race day at Churchill Downs, we handicap the full card and give you a pick in every race, along with our best bets and the horses we think the morning line […]
Horse Racing Predictions Today: Best Bets for Churchill Downs, Charles Town, Parx and Horseshoe Indianapolis (Nov 4)
Best pick: Stanka (Horseshoe Indianapolis, Race 2) +160 Best value pick: Massachusetts (Churchill Downs, Race 7) +1000 Claim Your $25 Risk-Free Horse Racing Bet at BetOnline The dust may have settled on the 2026 Breeders’ Cup, but the horse racing action keeps coming thick and fast. Wednesday brings a 10-race card at Churchill Downs, while […]