Cambier Parc Upsets Wonder Again

ELMONT, NY – Dismissed as “the other Chad Brown” runner in Thursday’s Wonder Again Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park, Cambier Parc stamped herself as worthy of recognition when she outdueled her heavily-favored stablemate Newspaperofrecord to pull the upset.

Brekaing cleanly from post 4 under Jose Ortiz as the 5/1 second choice, Cambier Parc settled comfortably along the rail in third while Newspaperofrecord posted opening fractions of :23.96, :48.58, 1:12.48, and 1:35.07. Given her cue as she exited the far turn, Cambier Parc tipped out at the top of the lane and began fighting to reel in her loose-on-the-lead rival.

Inside the final furlong, Cambier Parc drew up alongside and soon cleared past Newspaperofrecord before running away late. The OXO Equine-owned filly hit the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:46.34 for the 1 3/8-mile event over the firm inner turf course.

“She broke good and relaxed nicely,” Ortiz said. “Nobody else could keep up by the 1/4 pole and I got an easy, perfect trip. At the top of the stretch, I didn’t know if I was going to get there because Newspaperofrecord is a really good filly, but when I saw that she didn’t get away from me, I thought I had a shot passing the 1/8 pole. In the last 1/8 of a mile, my filly was just better.”

Sent postward as the 1/9 prohibitive favorite under Jose’s brother Irad Ortiz, Jr., Newspaperofrecord weakened late but was 4 lengths clear of the remaining three runners. After enjoying an undefeated juvenile season that culminated in her winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvemile Fillies Turf (G1), Newspaperofrecord has failed to win either of her 2019 starts. Despite that, Brown was bullish on her chances moving forward

“Newspaperofrecord was disappointing,” Brown said. “She couldn’t stay a mile and 1/8 today. I thought Irad did all right today. She’s always going to be a horse that tugs along on the front end. I thought the fractions were fair, though. I have to believe the turf was drying out well. I didn’t see any excuse for the trip she got, or the fractions. The only thing I would say about her is what I’d like to see next time against a bigger field if we go on to the Belmont Oaks (G1). I would like to see her have someone to follow deeper into the stretch.”

Kelsey’s Cross overcame bobbling at the start and running last early to take third over Chocolate Kisses and Blonde Moment to complete the order of finish. Nonsensical was scratched as a main track only entry.

Cambier Parc’s win was her third in five career starts and her second in a graded event, following March’s Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was most recently fourth in the Edgewood Stakes (G3) , where Newspaperofrecord also finished second.

“I’m not surprised Cambier Parc ran this well,” Brown said. “That’s why we had her in the race. She’s a much better horse on firm ground. That race at Churchill didn’t do her any justice. She has the bloodlines to do it. Her mother (Sealy Hill) was second in the (2008) Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. As you saw today, she’s an up-and-comer in this division.”

Cambier Parc returned $12.40 to win and $2.10 to place, while Newspaperofrecord paid $2.10 to place. There was no show betting.