Anegada carried his career-best form to Sam Houston Park in Texas and won Saturday's Listed John B. Connally Turf Cup.

The Hurstland Farm product triumphed for the third time in four starts, all stakes, and this time negotiated a step up in trip to 12 furlongs with aplomb.

As winter storms descended on much of America, just enough rain fell on Sam Houston to render the turf yielding, a condition Anegada had also yet to encounter.

From the outset, it was clear the Midshipman gelding out of Love Cove (Not for Love) could handle it fine. New pilot Rafael Hernandez placed the 4yo gelding exacta where he wanted just off the pace.

Equally relishing the step up in trip, Hernandez had plenty of horse beneath him to surpass Presider and win by a comfortable length. Hollywood Turf Cup winner Truly Quality rallied belatedly in 3rd.

Saturday marked the 10th Connally Turf Cup win for Mike Maker, who trains Anegada for Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm.

Anegada came on strong in his sophomore campaign with wins in the Hawthorne Derby and Last Hurrah Stakes, the latter on Tapeta. With the winner's share of the Connally's $200,000 purse he has earned more than 10x his 2023 Keeneland January purchase price of $40,000.

Dam of eight Hurstland-reared winners and four black-type earners to date, Love Cove is due in 2026 to Mo Town. The MSW NY-bred foaled an Echo Town colt (video) last season.

Coady/Sam Houston photo.