Eh Cumpari rallies to victory in Palm Beach

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Eh Cumpari circled the field into the stretch, then out-finished the rail-skimming Felifran to register a well-deserved neck victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Palm Beach at Gulfstream Park. Divisdero was third.

Eh Cumpari, victimized by a wide trip when fifth making his turf and stakes debut in the Kittens Joy on Jan. 24, was last of the nine 3-year-olds leaving the backstretch in the 1 1/16-mile Palm Beach. Jockey Jose Caraballo had to angle Eh Cumpari six paths wide with his rally into the stretch, withstood a brief bumping incident with Call Me Crazy near the eighth pole, then finished full of run down the center of the course to register the mile upset.

Felifran, fourth in the Kittens Joy, rallied up the rail and just missed while checking in a half-length in front of the wide-running Divisidero.

Night Prowler, the even-money favorite, finished fifth after having to take up sharply between horses near the eighth pole.

Eh Cumpari, a son of Elusive Quality, is trained by Michael Dilger for the Antsu Stables. He paid $15.40.

“It was super exciting to watch,” said Dilger. “We were last at one point, and he basically circled the whole field again like he did in his maiden race. It’s not good for the heart, but it’s great to win. I think he appreciated the extra sixteenth of a mile [compared to the Kitten’s Joy], and I think he’d like to go farther again.”