7-year-old Dot Matrix makes grade in Connally Turf Cup

Dot Matrix broke through Sunday for his first graded stakes victory, outlasting nine rivals to win the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston Race Track.

Brad Cox trains Dot Matrix, a 7-year-old gelded son of Freud. The Ten Strike Racing runner entered off a third-place run Nov. 23 in Aqueduct’s Red Smith Stakes (G3), his first start in graded company.

Dot Matrix went off Sunday as the 3-1 third choice behind 5-2 co-favorites Bemma’s Boy and Marzo, both from the Mike Maker barn.

Sleepy Eyes Todd set a sleepy pace in the Connally, a 1½-mile turf stakes for older horses. The Miguel Angel Silva trainee posted panels of :25.63, :52.45 and 1:18.21 before Dot Matrix got a nose in front by the end of the first mile.

Marzo pressured Dot Matrix into the stretch, while Bemma’s Boy moved up to challenge those two. Neither of the Maker stablemates had enough for Dot Matrix, who crossed in 2:33.4 under jockey Florent Geroux for a win that returned $8.20.

Bemma’s Boy got by Marzo at the wire for second, with Zumurudee crossing fourth.

Dot Matrix now owns 10 wins out of 31 career starts. Non-graded scores in the 2018 Warrior Veterans Stakes at Indiana Grand Race Course and 2019 Ashley T. Cole Stakes at Belmont Park highlighted his ledger before he made the grade Sunday.