Trainer Brian Knippenberg couldn't help but get emotional as he watched 5-year-old gelding Mercante soar across the Turfway Park finish line March 22 in the $290,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3), pulling the 13-1 upset.
"Every minute we get with him is like a borrowed minute," Knippenberg said in the winner's circle.
Formerly trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Gun Runner developed a peculiar injury and was shipped to Hermitage Farm outside Louisville, Ky. The gelding's owner, Carl Pollard, purchased the farm in 1995 and owned it until Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown purchased the farm in 2003. Knippenberg ran the farm for Pollard and continues to manage his horses.
Once at Hermitage, they were unable to diagnose what was wrong with the gelding. After several months, the team at Kentucky Equine Hospital finally were able to make a diagnosis.
"It was a tiny tear—a non-weight-bearing thing—that was irritating a tendon," Knippenberg said. "We just had to keep stopping and keep stopping."
The injury forced Mercante to miss 15 1/2 months of racing. But once it was finally time to head back to the track, Knippenberg wrote a letter to Pollard asking if he could keep and train the horse.
"God bless Carl Pollard," Knippenberg said. "He gave me a shot with this horse."
The Kentucky Classic victory was the third in five starts for Mercante since returning to the races for Knippenberg. Jockey Joseph Ramos sat a perfect trip stalking in second just behind Encino, who set fractions of :23.48, :47.48, and 1:12.05.
"He loves the track and speed was holding," Knippenberg said. "We decided to lay just off (Encino) and it worked."
Mercante put his head in front as the pair entered the stretch. Encino battled gamely, but Mercante was too much to handle, inching clear to a one-length score. Hush of a Storm closed from last to be third.
Mercante paid $28.50 and completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.08.
It was the first graded stakes victory for Knippenberg, who currently trains just four horses at Tyrone Training Center near Goshen, Ky.—Mercante, a horse he owns himself, and a pair of 2-year-olds.
The gelding was bred in Kentucky by Pollard's CFP Thoroughbreds out of the Honour and Glory mare Caressing, who Pollard campaigned with trainer David Vance to Eclipse champion 2-year-old filly honors in 2000. Caressing is also the dam of grade 1 winner and 2017 champion 3-year-old male West Coast.
Knippenberg did not commit to what was next for the gelding who aced his first stakes task.
"He doesn't really like plans, he's kind of allergic to plans," Knippenberg said. "We'll get him home and see what he thinks. There's a big turf race (the Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs May 3) right before the Derby that I've dreamed of winning, but the horse will let us know."
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