Cambier Parc Upsets Newspaperofrecord in Wonder Again
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Cambier Parc wins the Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont Park
Chad Brown celebrated his third victory in the $194,000 Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) June 6 at Belmont Park, but it wasn't with the filly most people thought would be entering the winner's circle with the multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer.
OXO Equine's Cambier Parc found another gear in midstretch and quickly surged past her more accomplished stablemate and big favorite Newspaperofrecord on her way to a clear victory in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies on the inner turf.
It marked the second graded stakes win this season for Cambier Parc, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro who in her stakes debut posted a three-quarter-length score in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) in March on the Gulfstream Park turf. She entered Thursday's race off a fourth-place finish in the May 3 Edgewood Stakes Presented by Forcht Bank (G3T) on good turf at Churchill Downs, where Newspaperofrecord finished second.
The Edgewood was the first start for Newspaperofrecord since she closed her 2-year-old season with a 6 3/4-length waltz to victory in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). She was passed by Concrete Rose in her return in the Edgewood.
In Thursday's race, speedy Newspaperofrecord quickly opened a clear advantage under Irad Ortiz Jr. and cruised through a quarter-mile in :23.96 and a half-mile in :48.58. Cambier Parc, under Jose Ortiz, improved position while saving ground inside on the far turn.
Newspaperofrecord carried a 1 1/2-length advantage into the stretch after six furlongs in 1:12.48, while Cambier Parc, who punched through inside in the far turn, tracked her into the stretch. About midstretch, Cambier Parc launched her winning move, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths and completing the race in 1:46.34 on firm turf.
"Cambier Parc, I'm not surprised she ran this well. That's why we had her in the race," Brown said. "She's a far better horse on firm ground. That race at Churchill Downs really didn't do her any justice."
Klaravich Stables' Newspaperofrecord, sent off as the favorite at less than 1-5 odds, had to settle for runner-up for a second straight race. Last year, the daughter of Lope de Vega won all three of her starts.
Irad Ortiz thought Newspaperofrecord was rank early and noted she still ran a nice race. Brown believes the frontrunning filly may now need a target early.
"What I would like to see, if we go on to the (July 6) Belmont Oaks (G1T) with a bigger field, is (how she will respond) if she has someone to follow a little deeper into the stretch. I just wonder if she's getting a little lost when she's so alone, like when she kicked clear in the stretch in her last two races," Brown said. "As a 3-year-old against lightly raced horses that aren't as good as her, they are not going to catch her. Now she just got run down two times in a row by really good horses. Opening up a big lead in the stretch, it might not be the logical thing for her anymore. We'll try different things with her."
Cambier Parc returned $12.40 to win and $2.10 to place, and Newspaperofrecord paid $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering offered. Rounding out the finish were Kelsey's Cross, Chocolate Kisses, and Blonde Moment.
Brown won the Wonder Again in 2017 with New Money Honey and in 2015 with Lady Eli.
OXO Equine went to $1.25 million at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to purchase Cambier Parc from the consignment of Gainesway, agent.
Bred in Kentucky by Bonne Chance Farm, Cambier Parc is out of Canadian Horse of the Year and the country's 2007 Triple Tiara winner Sealy Hill, who also has produced Canadian champion sprinter and grade 2 winner Hillaby and grade 3 winners Belle Hill and Gale Force.
Brown sees potential for Cambier Parc to stretch out.
"She has the bloodlines to do it. Her mother was second in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T). She's bred to run a mile and a quarter on turf or firm turf," Brown said. "As you saw today, she's an up-and-coming player in this division."
Brown was pleased with both of his runners and is looking forward to the Belmont Oaks.
"I saw 'Newspaper' try to come back when the other one got clear. She didn't get her, but she fought back in the stretch and galloped out quite well. That's why I think a target might be the thing to do next time if we are going to get her back to her winning ways," Brown said. "They are two exciting horses to take on to the next big race here. I can't take anything away from Cambier Parc. It was her day."