Anegada noses out Final Gambit in Last Hurrah
Meet titles go to Rodriguez (jockey), Godolphin (owner) and Ward, Foster and Sharp (trainer)
Edited Turfway Park press release (Coady Media photo of #2 Anegada battling the gray Final Gambit through the stretch to win the Last Hurrah)
FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025) – Three Diamonds Farm’s Anegada held off Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) winner Final Gambit by a scant nose to win Saturday’s first running of the $125,000 Last Hurrah Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.
With Holiday Meet-leading jockey Walter Rodriguez in the irons for trainer Mike Maker, Anegada completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.72. In the final day of Turfway Park racing for 2025, Rodriguez finished with 26 victories to easily earn his first Turfway meet riding title over Luan Machado, who finished with 13. Eric Foster and Joe Sharp each won their only start to pull into a three-way tie with Wesley Ward to be leading trainer with six victories apiece. And Godolphin easily repeated as leading owner with five wins in 14 starts, while no other own won more than two races.
It was a good start to the Last Hurrah as 33-1 longshot Fountain Run took the field of seven 3-year-olds into the first turn while completing a quarter-mile in :24.34 and half-mile in :48.34. While Fountain Run was uncontested on the lead, Rodriguez had Anegada positioned at the rail in sixth, about eight lengths off the lead. At the quarter-pole, Rodriguez began to move Anegada to the outside and at the top of the lane swung to the six path. Inside the eighth pole, Anegada took the lead but had to hold off the late charge of Final Gambit, who was storming down the center of the Turfway Park stretch. In the final jump, Anegada was able to keep his nose in front and hold Final Gambit at bay.
It was 3 ¼ lengths back to Energize in third. He was followed by Urban Planner,California Burrito, Fountain Run and National Law.
Sent off at odds of 8-1, Anegada rewarded his backers with a $18.72 mutuel payout.
Anegada earned $75,760 for his victory in the Last Hurrah to boost his career mark to $322,039. He improved his overall record to 14-3-2-3. A gelded son of Midshipman, Anegada is out of the Not For Love mare Love Cove. He was bred in Kentucky by Leonard Supchak.
Maker, Turfway’s all-time win leader, finished the meet with five wins while taking the earnings title at $387,073.
Live racing at Turfway Park will resume Thursday for the start of the Winter/Spring Meet. The nine-race card features the 32nd running of the $125,000 Gowell Stakes in Race 8. For more information, visit www.turfway.com.
