Mercante Rising as a Key Player in the Kentucky Turf Cup

Mercante’s rise from longshot to contender has been one of the more compelling storylines in American turf racing this year. The 5-year-old gelding, owned by Carl Pollard and trained by Brian Knippenberg, will line up Saturday at Kentucky Downs in the $2.5 million Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational (G2), where he enters as one of the betting favorites.

Mercante almost surprised the competitors in the million-dollar Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) held on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. He made an explosive break and dominated the race, staying at the front until the last 1/8 mile when Spirit of St Louis horse, the bet-on favorite, made his move and got the victory by three-quarters of a length. That performance transformed Mercante from a feel-good story to a horse respected every time he starts.

“He ran his heart out that day,” said jockey Joe Ramos, who has guided Mercante through several of his most notable efforts. “You could feel he belonged with the best turf horses in the country.”

Two months after that near-defeat, Mercante returned to Churchill Downs in June for the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes. The horse was sent off at respectable odds, and he proved far too strong in the stretch, giving Ramos and Knippenberg a career-defining victory.

After the race, Ramos was excited when he was able to physically touch and stroke the horse as a way to show how meaningful the victory was, not only for him, but the animal as well. “He’s all heart,” Ramos said. “Every time he goes out there, he gives you everything.”

Mercante’s training regimen differs from many elite runners. Knippenberg, who has long managed Hermitage Farm outside Louisville, oversees just four horses, two of which are actively racing. His responsibilities extend beyond conditioning, balancing his time between Hermitage Farm management and the racetrack.

“I’ve been fortunate to have the support of Mr. Pollard and the team at Hermitage,” Knippenberg said. “We don’t have the numbers that some of the national outfits do, but we put a lot of attention into the horses we train.”

That individualized care has clearly suited Mercante, who continues to show improvement with each outing.

Saturday’s Kentucky Turf Cup will be one of the marquee races of the meet, part of the FanDuel TV U.S. Open Turf Championships card. The $2.5 million purse has attracted several of the country’s top turf runners, providing another stern test for Mercante.

Spirit of St Louis horse, who defeated him on Derby Day, is pointed toward the $2.5 million FanDuel TV Mint Millions Invitational (G3) on the same card, giving Mercante a chance to step forward without facing his most familiar rival. Still, the competition will be strong, with multiple graded stakes winners expected to line up.

Knippenberg acknowledged the challenge but welcomed the opportunity. “This is where you want to be with a horse like him,” he said. “These are tough races, but he’s proven he belongs.”

Mercante’s professional journey visually represents the gradual progression of an equine that has managed to overcome humble origins. Despite not being raised or raced like some of the major stables in the sport, he keeps getting better and better. Starting with coming very close to winning a Grade 1 race on Derby Day to actually getting a graded stakes victory in the summer, his off-the-cuff now shows that he has been both steady and moving forward.

Fans have taken notice, particularly after his Arlington Stakes performance. For Ramos, the connection with the gelding goes beyond the racetrack. Ramos said that “He is such a horse with whom you feel proud to ride. He desires to compete, and that is the reason why my work is a bit lighter.”

As the Kentucky Turf Cup approaches, Mercante carries both expectations and momentum. The race offers not only significant prize money but also potential positioning for future opportunities in the fall, including possible Breeders’ Cup implications.

For Pollard, Knippenberg, and Ramos, the journey has already exceeded early projections. Yet the sense around the barn is that Mercante has more to show as he matures.

“We’re just enjoying the ride with him,” Knippenberg said. “Every time he goes to the gate, he surprises us in some way. Saturday will be another chance to see how far he’s come.”

From his near-storybook run on Kentucky Derby Day to his standing now as one of the most respected turf horses in training, Mercante has rewritten his narrative in a single season. The Kentucky Turf Cup will mark the next chapter in a campaign that has already proven memorable.