Exotics Plays for the 2025 Last Hurrah Stakes

A well-matched field of nine three-year-olds will run 1 1/8 miles over the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $125,000 Last Hurrah S. 

Last Hurrah Exotics

• $3 exacta key box 9 with 2,3,4 ($18)
• $2 trifecta key 9 with 2,3,4 ($12)
• 50-cent superfecta 3,9 with 3,9 with 2,4 with all ($12)

My leading selection is the Michael Stidham-trained #9 Energize (9-2). The gelding has yet to run over a synthetic strip, and he has never competed in a stakes race either, but the Godolphin homebred has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in every career run and seems poised to give a good account of himself in his local bow. 

By Medaglia d’Oro, the sophomore had the blinkers removed for an allowance tilt at Churchill Downs most recently and was an excellent winner at today’s distance. Energize has the early presence to be in range throughout the event from the outside post slot, and the bay has also recorded a trio of swift morning drills at this locale recently. Joseph Ramos will guide the ever-improving three-year-old. 

#3 Final Gambit (8-5) bagged the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in convincing fashion on the oval in the spring and will make his local return on this occasion. Fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Brad Cox trainee has missed the board in six straight while facing some fine foes, and I feel that he will relish the class relief as well as the Tapeta in this particular spot. The one-run closing type has posted a handful of solid morning spins on the course in advance of Saturday and will have Luan Machado in the stirrups. 

Mike Maker’s #2 Anegada (7-2) has run solely on the grass leading up to this endeavor, and I expect him to prosper over the oval in his all-weather debut. Hawthorne Derby victor was a closing fourth in the deep Commonwealth S. (G3) at Churchill Downs most recently and will appreciate the added ground against this field. The former claimer will be in the mix late under Walter Rodriguez. 

Kenny McPeek’s #4 Maximum Promise (15-1) will add value to the vertical exotics with the blinkers going back on. The bay colt was third in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the oval in March, and I envision him passing runners late at a big price to grab a share beneath Leparoux.