Dot Matrix holds off late-running foes in Connally Turf Cup

Dot Matrix won the most significant race of his career Sunday, when the Brad Cox trainee held off a charging pair of Mike Maker trainees for a three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston. Bemma’s Boy, who was second, and Marzo, third, were attempting to give Maker an eighth win in the Connally.

The Connally, at 1 1/2 miles, was part of the Houston Racing Festival, a program of six stakes worth a total of $950,000. The card included the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic won by Lady Apple.

Dot Matrix ($8.20) came into the Connally Cup off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Red Smith in November at Aqueduct. He was prominent on Sunday, sitting just off pacesetter Sleepy Eyes Todd through an opening quarter in 25.63 seconds, a half-mile in 52.45, six furlongs in 1:18.21, and a mile in 1:43.98. Dot Matrix took the lead from there, and covered the distance on a course rated good in 2:33.46.

“I had to make sure I didn’t move too soon,” winning rider Florent Geroux said on the simulcast feed from Sam Houston. “I had a feeling one of Maker’s horses would be coming at the end.”

Dot Matrix is a son of Freud who earned $114,000 for his first graded stakes victory in the Connally. It was his third career stakes win. Dot Matrix, who is owned by Ten Strike Racing, is now 10 for 31 with earnings of $601,487.

Bodecream wins inaugural Texas Turf Mile

The other major grass stakes Sunday was the new $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds and Bodecream unleashed a powerful run through the stretch for a 3 1/2–length victory over Toma Todo. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Pixelate in third.

Bodecream ($21) sat off the pace set by Jack and Noah, who took the field through fractions of 22.51 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.23 for the half-mile, and 1:11.49 for six furlongs. Bodecream made his move through the stretch, covering the distance on a course rated good in 1:37.01.

“I kept him covered up as long as I could,” winning rider Deshawn Parker said. “Once I asked him, he just took off.”

Parker was aboard the son of Bodemeister for Red Lane Thoroughbreds and trainer Danny Pish. Bodecream won his maiden in his turf debut in August at Retama Park and came into Sunday’s race off a runner-up finish in a first-level turf allowance at Fair Grounds in December. Bodecream earned $114,000 to improve his record to two wins from six starts for earnings of $137,307.

Attendance ontrack Sunday was 6,075, according to officials with Sam Houston.

Mr Money Bags in a corker

Mr Money Bags ($5) won the sixth stakes race of his career when he opened up on his rivals through the stretch in the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint. He won by 6 3/4 lengths over Takes Two to Tango. Mr Money Bags tracked that one through fractions of 22.08 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.33 for a half-mile before shuttling home in 1:09.94. The track was upgraded from good to fast for the Stonerside.

Mr Money Bags was winning his third straight stakes, in a streak that started in New Mexico in the Roadrunner at Zia Park and included the $250,000 Zia Park Derby. Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez was aboard the son of Silver City on Sunday for breeder and owner Roy Cobb and trainer Mike Neatherlin. Mr Money Bags is now 8 for 11 with earnings of $389,070.

► The stakes action opened with Real News ($3.80) winning a fight to the wire for a half-length victory over Fast Boat in the $100,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint. The winner covered five furlongs on a course rated good in 57.30 seconds. Real News was winning his first stakes race and his second straight race, off an allowance score at Fair Grounds. Colby Hernandez rode the son of The Factor for Town and Country Racing and trainer Al Stall Jr. The horse is now 4-for-8 for earnings of $225,020.

► Winning Envelope ($6.40) became a stakes winner when she closed from last for a length win over Dream Passage in the $75,000 Jersey Lilly. The winner covered 1 1/16 miles on a turf course rated good in 1:45.15. Flavien Prat rode the daughter of More Than Ready for Lothenbach Stables and trainer Chris Block. She has now won 4 of 13 starts and earned $198,258.