2026 Turf Classic Stakes: Win, place and trifecta picks from horse racing guru

The New York-bred Rhetorical will try to return to the winner's circle when he leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Turf Classic Stakes on Saturday in Louisville, Ky. Trained by Will Walden, Rhetorical has five wins in eight starts but has lost his last two. For Saturday he has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Turf Classic Stakes odds. Test Score (7-2), Program Trading (4-1), Make Me King (6-1) and Asbury Park (8-1) round out the top five choices in the 2026 Turf Classic Stakes odds. Post time for the Turf Classic Stakes 2026 is 5:39 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Turf Classic Stakes bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 39 Triple Crown races. He nailed Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Turf Classic Stakes.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Turf Classic Stakes, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman's top pick is not Rhetorical, even though he is the 5-2 favorite. Another curveball: Hochman is high on Mercante, even though he is a 12-1 longshot. "Mercante excels on the Churchill grass, having won the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes over this course last summer," Hochman says. He is using Mercante prominently in his wagers.

Moreover, Hochman's top pick is a horse who "checks all the boxes." He also is high on a double-digit longshot who has "tactical versatility." You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Turf Classic Stakes picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Turf Classic Stakes? Which big double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Turf Classic Stakes picks, all from the expert who has nailed Triple Crown races!