(Mercante Springs captures Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park on Saturday / All Photos by Coady Media)

From the Turfway Park Media Team / Kevin Kerstein:

MERCANTE SPRINGS 13-1 UPSET IN GRADE III, $290,000 TWINSPIRES KENTUCKY CUP CLASSIC

Carl Pollard’s Mercante battled the entire length of the Turfway Park stretch with Encino to pull a 13-1 upset victory in Saturday’s 25th running of the $290,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (Grade III).

With jockey Joe Ramos in the saddle for trainer Brian Knippenberg, Mercante completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.08 for a one length victory.

It was a good start to the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic with Encino going to the early lead under jockey Luan Machado while completing quarter-mile fractions of :23.48 and :47.48 with Mercante tracking his every move in second. Around the far turn, Ramos began to ask Mercante to engage with Encino and the two battled the entire length of the Turfway Park stretch with Mercante sticking his head in front inside the sixteenth pole.

“I can’t thank the connections enough for allowing me to ride this horse back,” Ramos said. “He was so game today and fought hard the entire stretch. We’re out here having fun on Turfway Park’s biggest day in front of a great crowd. You can’t really ask for anything more.”

Mercante rewarded his backers by returning $2 mutuel payouts of $28.50, $11.54 and $7.40.

It was 6 ¾ lengths back to Hush of a Storm in third who was followed by Utah Beach, Gamer,Lord Bullingdon, Paros, Tapit Shoes, Highestdistinciton, Chiron and Verstappen.

The TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic was Mercante’s fourth victory from 11 starts with three of those wins coming at Turfway Park. Mercante has now banked purse earnings of $367,017.

A 5-year-old son of Gun Runner, Mercante is out of the Pollard’s brilliant mare Caressing.