Cambier Parc Conquers Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, CA – OXO Equine’s Cambier Parc shipped west to compete, then shifted out very wide in the stretch to win her third graded effort of the year in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Oaks Presented by The Jockey Club (G1) at Del Mar.

Breaking from the rail under John Velazquez as the 6/5 favorite, Cambier Parc took back and settled along the inside in mid-pack while Raymundos Secret posted opening fractions of :23.31, :46.89, and 1:10.50. As the field made its way through the far turn, Velazquez had to take Cambier Parc to the outside as she cornered, then to the extreme outside as the front-running group faned out at the top of the stretch.

Despite running closer to the popcorn vendors than the inside rail, Cambier Parc straightened for home and unleashed a devastating kick. Closing ground rapidly with every stride, Cambier Parc blew past her foes in mid-stretch before taking the lead with ease. The Chad Brown trainee crossed 1 1/4 lengths clear to win the 1 1/8-mile event over the firm turf course in a final time of 1:46.75.

“It sure is nice to ride one like this,” Velazquez said. “When you ask for it, they give it to you. We were in a good spot the first time by the wire and comfortable. When we went past the 3/4 (pole), I shifted her out to where she was comfortable. We’d already saved enough ground and I wanted to get her going. She took care of it from there.”

After breaking from the far outside 14 post, Hidden Message came flying late to take second by a 1/2-length over the closing Lady Prancealot. Fourth went to Keeper Ofthe Stars by a head over Hard Legacy, while Maxim Rate was a 1/2-length behind her in sixth. Mucho Unusual stalked early but faded in the stretch to finish seventh by a neck over a similarly fading Raymundos Secret. Wildlife, Dogtag, Apache Princess, Out of Balance, and Sold It completed the order of finish.

Strike At Dawn was scratched.

Cambier Parc’s win was her fourth of 2019 after getting home first in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Wonder Again Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, purchased for $1.25 million as a yearling, has now earned $497,460 with a record of 7-4-0-1.

“I left all the terms of guidance to John and to Chad Brown,” said Larry Best of OXO Equine. “The horse looked very relaxed all the way around and I’m glad she had the turn of foot to get home.”

Cambier Parc returned $4.40 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.60 to show. Hidden Message brought back $7.60 to place and $6.20 to show, while Lady Prancealot paid $6.40 to show.