Eh Cumpari!
One of the biggest surprises at Aqueduct so far this fall came two weeks ago when first time starter Eh Cumpari shocked the world to the tune of a $93.50 return for anyone lucky enough to have him on top. No doubt the big payoff secured the dark bay colt a few fans after rolling to win the off-the-turf, one-mile maiden race by 3 ¼-lengths. Those new supporters won’t have to wait long to see more from the impressive longshot winner. Eh Cumpari is being pointed for the 100th edition of the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, to be run on the Cigar Mile undercard, November 29th.
If his only career race is any indication, the 45-1 maiden special weight winner might just have a shot to upset the Remsen, as well. Clearly last after a less than smooth start, Eh Cumpari trailed the field of eleven as they moved down the backstretch. Still back in last and on the rail on the far turn, rider Channing Hill needed to find the son of Elusive Quality some room to roll for the stretch drive, and swung him widest of all at the head of the Big A stretch. From there he began picking off horses in rapid succession, and before you knew it, he had inhaled the entire field. Ultimately blowing the doors off the mid-stretch clear leader Kick Off in the final sixteenth, Eh Cumpari won going away on his way to a solid 1:36.66 mile.
Looking at his pedigree, perhaps the debut win should not have come as such a surprise. A $225,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, Eh Cumpari is owned by Anstu Stables, and trained by Michael Dilger. Besides being the son of a sire of both a Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner and a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, he also comes form a solid female family. Bred in Kentucky, he is the product of broodmare, Bells Are Ringing. The daughter of Sadlers Wells is a stakes producing half sister of Unbridled’s Song.
Can he go from surprising a maiden field, to winner in one of the most important juvenile races on the East Coast within his first month of racing? Only time will tell, but much like his supporters did just two weeks ago, a Remsen win would be cause to sing from the rooftops.