Cambodia Reigns Again in Yellow Ribbon

Cambodia's affinity for the Del Mar course was on full display Aug. 4 when the daughter of War Front  handily put away her rivals to win the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) for a second straight season.

The ocean air has often brought out the best in Winter Quarter Farm's 6-year-old mare. Three of her four graded stakes victories have come at Del Mar, with her last such win the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) in September.

Cambodia had dropped four straight since that outing—including a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T)—and had a particularly tough start to her 2018 season with off-the-board efforts in both the Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) and Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T). Back over her preferred turf, the 8-5 favorite looked very much in her element Saturday.

With Drayden Van Dyke up, Cambodia rated in an outside path in fifth, then fourth as Sassy Little Lila was prompted by Ancient Secret through fractions of :23.33 and :47.03. The top two were still side by side approaching the final turn, but Cambodia ranged up three wide outside of Ancient Secret and took command at the top of the lane.

"She put me up there in the race. She's got that natural speed, and she wants to be in the race," Van Dyke said. "I was just biding my time; I had a couple to beat, but I had good aim. She likes this turf course, no doubt."

The Tom Proctor trainee opened daylight in the stretch and was never threatened as she won by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:40.51 over a firm course for the 1 1/16-mile test.

"We really wanted her to do this. I've never had a horse like this, and we decided to run her at 6, because it's such a thrill and I feel like I'm vindicated," said owner/breeder Don Robinson of Winter Quarter Farm. "She's run in two grade 1s this year, and they don't give those away. She was close (despite finishing sixth and seventh), so we thought maybe she'd make it out here. This is her spot, and she loves it."

Fellow graded stakes winner Madame Stripes got up by a head for second over Sophie P in third. Hallie Belle was fourth, with Storm the Hill rounding out the top five in the 11-horse field.

Cambodia earned her first graded win in the May 2017 Gallorette Stakes (G3T) at Pimlico Race Course and went on to prevail in last year's Yellow Ribbon by three-quarters of a length over a field that included grade 1 winner Avenge. Bred in Kentucky by Robinson and Maverick Productions out of the Smart Strike mare Sassifaction, the bay mare has won seven of 18 starts, with $778,913 in earnings.

Video: Yellow Ribbon H. (G2T)