Eh Cumpari Closes to Claim Palm Beach
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Anstu Stables' Eh Cumpari went from last to first in the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) to notch his first stakes victory March 7 at Gulfstream Park .
The dark bay 3-year-old colt by Elusive Quality finished ninth in last year's Remsen Stakes (gr. II) and was fifth in the Kitten's Joy Stakes in his turf debut Jan. 24. He made the best of his second career turf start with a closing drive to edge 24-1 longshot Felifran by a head.
Eh Cumpari sat in eighth in the nine-horse field when 53-1 Nutty Futty opened up the first quarter-mile in :23.76, then slipped back to ninth and last when Nutty Futty, the longest shot in the field at 53-1, ran the half-mile in :48.01.
Eh Cumpari swung extremely wide through the second turn with jockey Jose Caraballo, but advanced to fourth in the stretch and outlasted a rail bid by Felifran, who also made a closing run. Second choice Divisidero was a half length back in third.
Eh Cumpari ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.96 on a turf course rated firm, earning his second win from four career starts.
"I didn't want to go that wide, but I had to do it because he was ready," Caraballo said. "He was ready to go. I had tons of horse. He couldn't have done it any better."
Eh Cumpari, under top weight of 118 pounds, paid $15.40, $8.60, and $6.00. Felifran, under 117, returned $21 and $12, while Divisidero, at 116 pounds, paid $4.40 to show. The $2 exacta paid $292.40 and the $1 trifecta returned $827.40.
Call Me Crazy, even-money favorite Night Prowler, Nutty Futty, Decision Day, Croninthebarbarian, and Bears Personality completed the order of finish.
An early early Triple Crown nominees, lightly raced Eh Cumpari might not remain on turf going forward. Trainer Michael Dilger appeared to leave the door wide open for a potential classic bid.
"He's probably slightly better on turf, but he's a 3-year-old colt doing well at the moment, so there are lots of exciting options for him," Dilger said. "(We don't have a plan), not yet. We'll discuss it an figure it out tomorrow, and enjoy today."
Eh Cumpari, bred in Kentucky by Turner Breeders, was a $225,000 purchase by Jim Moloney at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings. VanMeter Sales consigned the colt out of the Sadler's Wells mare Bells Are Ringing, a half sister to grade I winner and prominent sire Unbridled's Song.