NEWS: RACING

Converge steps up to win Grade 3 Palm Beach

Saturday, February 27th, 2016
Photo: Lauren King

Coglianese Photos/Lauren King

By Sarah Mace

Converge took a huge step forward in his first start of 2016 with the assist of a nifty ride by Javier Castellano when he won the Grade 3, $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf contest for 3-year-olds on the Fountain of Youth undercard at Gulfstream Park Saturday.

A 3-year-old son of Sidney’s Candy owned by Paul Pompa Jr., and destined to become his sire’s first stakes winner, Converge came into the Palm Beach off a four-month vacation following a two-race freshman campaign for trainer Chad Brown. Winner of his career bow in state-bred company at Belmont in September, the colt ran a strong late-closing second in the Awad Stakes on October 30 for which he earned a Beyer of 77.

Many contenders in the robust 13-horse field of the Palm Beach had posted numbers in the mid-80s, and most had a seasoning and recency edge over the lightly-raced Converge. Clearly he was going to have to take a big step forward to make a serious impact in the outcome of the race.

With little gate speed and an unenviable outside draw in post 11 of 13, Converge tucked in after the break and was guided over to the rail. Meanwhile American Phantom led the group clocking strong fractions of 23.11 and 47.27 at staggering odds of 168-1.

Converge had only one horse beaten through the first turn, saved ground just off the rail along the backstretch, and advanced closer into contention entering far turn, coming out one path as he prepared to launch his bid.

Coglianese Photos

Coglianese Photos

Between and among horses in upper- and mid-stretch with four rivals still to pass, Converge angled back in under Castellano in the final furlong to take advantage of a late-opening seam. The colt split horses and surged forward to win by three-quarters of a length.

His final time for 8 1/2 furlongs was a sharp 1:40.64 for which he earned a career-high Beyer Speed figure of 88.

Bet down to narrow favoritism from his 8-1 morning line, Converge paid $7.80 for a $2 win bet. Giant Run (9-1) raced evenly throughout and led briefly in the stretch to finish second, nosing out Ousby (11-1) for third.

Chad Brown said, “We knew this horse doesn’t have any early speed and he [Javier Castellano] would have to tuck him in off the break. We just said, ‘Take your chances and try to find someone live to follow on the inside.’ On this turf course, if you can work your way up and get within striking distance turning for home, it’s ideal. Javier just rode a masterful race and he had the horse beneath him to do it. He’s a real quality horse.”

Castellano added, “I had a beautiful trip. I have to give Mr. Brown credit. I rode the horse the way he wanted to do it. It was the first time I rode the horse I never was on the horse before. The horse ran a beautiful race.”

Brown indicated that he is aiming mostly for a summer turf campaign with Converge following this single Gulfstream start and will pick his next race in due course.

The Empire-bred topper of the second book of Keeneland’s 2014 yearling sale when hammered down to Xavier International Bloodstock, Agent for $240,000, Converge was bred by SF Racing and foaled at Vinery New York at Sugar Maple in Poughquag.

A May foal, he is out of Atlantic Ocean, a multiple graded stakes-winning Florida-bred daughter of Stormy Atlantic who won the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at two and the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at three. She enjoyed stakes success on both turf and dirt over three seasons of racing and earned $678,210.

Atlantic Ocean, who was purchased by Gavin Murphy and Neil Bowden’s SF Bloodstock at the 2010 Keeneland November sale for $230,000, has produced four winners from four foals to start including stakes placed Golden Galleon by Medaglia d’Oro.

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