Anegada noses Final Gambit in Last Hurrah Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE?q=100)
Two favored closers found the right trip in the $125,000 Last Hurrah Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday, but neither 3-year-old reaped the richest reward for their late-running trips. With a sweeping move from sixth, 8-1 outsider Anegada ran down Energize and held off Final Gambit to snatch the photo-finish victory for trainer Michael Maker.
Originally 7-2 on the morning line, Anegada entered his first race on synthetic with reasonable qualifications. In October, the lifelong turf runner won the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby before outrunning his 31-1 odds to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 22. Bettors were punished for letting him drift away on the tote board this time, as he paid $18.72 to win.
Fountain Run, a 33-1 longshot, tried to steal the Last Hurrah on the front end in the field of seven, completing the opening quarter-mile in 24.34 seconds before opening a four-length lead through a half-mile in 48.34. While he made his bold attempt, even-money favorite Final Gambit settled at the back of the pack, just behind 7-5 second choice Energize and Anegada.
When the pace up front inevitably collapsed in the 1 1/8-mile race, the three closers became natural challengers in a scramble for the lead. Energize made the first move under Joseph Ramos, advancing from fifth on the far turn to take a short lead entering the stretch.
Anegada and jockey Walter Rodriguez swung wider than Energize on the far turn, and though he began his stretch run in fourth, it was clear that he had the momentum to overtake the new leader down the center. He wasn’t alone, however, as Final Gambit traveled widest of all with a flying move from last under jockey Luan Machado.
With Energize firmly put away, Rodriguez had to ask Anegada to dig in when Final Gambit drew alongside to his outside. The gelding responded, kicking away from his favored rival in a stubborn bid near the wire.
Final Gambit, the winner of the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in his last race at Turfway in March, mustered a similar late surge in the Last Hurrah, but the Brad Cox-trained colt was simply second-best on Saturday. Anegada hung on to win by a nose, with a time of 1:50.72.
Energize, a gelding making his stakes debut for trainer Michael Stidham, finished 3 1/2 lengths behind in third. The three trailing runners after a quarter-mile ended up finishing in the first three positions, but Energize’s slightly earlier bid proved difficult to sustain against his late-flying rivals.
Final Gambit, far from disgraced in the first listed stakes of his career, wrapped up his 3-year-old season with two victories, both on synthetic at Turfway. He came within 4 1/2 lengths of Grade 1 victories on both dirt and turf in a 10-race campaign, finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Belmont Derby and Saratoga Derby Invitational.
For Anegada, often overlooked despite competitive performances in strong races, a victory over Final Gambit at his home track is sure to earn him respect going forward. Maker has discovered the gelding’s affinity for synthetic, which could broaden his options as a 4-year-old.
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