There was an awfully impressive performance turned in this past Saturday by an awfully talented 3-year-old, yet has gone virtually unnoticed due to its lack of Kentucky Derby implications.

The 21st renewal of the Palm Beach was contested this past weekend at Gulfstream Park, and seemed on paper to be a two-horse race as Storm in May and Soldier’s Dancer had spent the winter battling each other in turf stakes at Calder. Yet it was the recent maiden winner Duveen who stole the show - if not the headlines - with a narrow victory.

Duveen had began his career with a trio of dismal efforts in New York, yet showed dramatic improvement when placed on turf for the first time earlier this meet. The son of Horse Chestnut showed enough in drawing away to win his most recent start in late February to convince trainer Dale Romans to try the jump to graded stakes company.

Beneath Mark Guidry, Duveen relaxed nicely along the fence, yet steadied briefly while searching for a seam at the head of the lane just as Soldier’s Dancer was storming to the lead in the clear.

Despite 9-5 favorite Soldier’s Dancer getting the jump, Duveen rallied up the inside to nail the more experienced rival on the money by a nose, earning a career-best Beyer speed figure of 92 in the process.

Romans, who saddled the brilliant Kitten’s Joy to victory in this race in 2004, has indicated the Crown Royal Turf on May 4 at Churchill Downs could be Duveen’s next start.