Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Last Hurrah Stakes

Dec 26, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Energize wins race 7 at Churchill Downs on November 16, 2025. (Photo by Coady Media)

An accomplished cast of nine sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles over the Tapeta at Turfway Park in Saturday’s $125,000 Last Hurrah S.

I’ll go to the outside of the field for my top pick with Energize. Trained by Michael Stidham, the gelding has improved his Brisnet Speed rating with every run in his career and was last seen winning a race on the dirt at Churchill Downs over a nice opponent.

The son of very good sire Medaglia d’Oro has gotten much better as the distances have increased this season, and he closed with good energy when running 1 1/8 miles in his most recent run, too.

🔋 Energize takes a trip to the winner's circle after R7 at @churchilldowns under @luissaezpty for trainer @Stidhamracing!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/lzlCAtNPbO

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 16, 2025

Energize has some pretty good speed from the gate to go with his strong closing kick, and while he has never run on a synthetic course like this one, I have a good level of confidence that he will like the ground on Saturday. The horse has posted some fast morning workouts at Turfway in December, and if the three-year-old races like he trains here, then I expect him to come out on top in this tilt. Joseph Ramos picks up the ride for the first time.

Two runners who won stakes races on this surface earlier in the season will be on my ticket, as well. John Battaglia Memorial S. star California Burrito has finished out of the money in his last three assignments leading up to this contest but gets back on a racetrack that he enjoys for trainer Tom Drury. The son of Army Mule will improve in his second appearance after being on the bench for a long time, and the rail post position will be a benefit to him, as well. He will likely be close from the break with Edgar Morales in the saddle.

Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Final Gambit parlayed that win in March into a fourth-place result in the Kentucky Derby (G1) for conditioner Brad Cox. The late-running gray has lost six races in a row, although he has been facing some standout three-year-olds along the way and is a better fit in this race and on this surface. By surging sire Not This Time, the sophomore colt will be unhurried while in last in the early portion of this race, but he will unwind his late burst in the stretch and be a menacing figure late with Luan Machado aboard.

Expert Pick for the 2025 Last Hurrah Stakes

An exacta with #9 Energize on top of #1 California Burrito and #3 Final Gambit in the 2025 Last Hurrah Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.