Cambier Parc beats stablemate Newspaperofrecord in Wonder Again Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – For the second time in as many starts this year, Newspaperofrecord proved she has the speed but not the stamina to go a route of ground.

One race after setting a strong pace and failing to go on in the Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs, Newspaperofrecord was again headstrong while racing on the lead under Irad Ortiz Jr., and she gave way in the lane to her stablemate Cambier Parc, who won Thursday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Wonder Again by 1 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.

Newspaperofrecord, the 1-9 favorite, finished second by four lengths over Kelsey’s Cross. Chocolate Kisses and Blonde Moment completed the order of finish.

The win was the third from five starts for Cambier Parc, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro who brought $1.25 million as a yearling. She was purchased by Larry Best at the Keeneland September auction of 2017.

Both the winner and the runner-up are trained by Chad Brown, leading to some mixed emotions for the conditioner afterward.

“With Newspaper, it’s disappointing that she couldn’t stay a mile and an eighth today,” Brown said. “She’s always going to be a horse that tugs along a little on the front end. I thought the fractions were fair though … I don’t see any excuse from the trip that she got or her fractions.”

Cambier Parc had finished fourth in the Edgewood over “good” turf at Churchill Downs. Cambier Parc had proven more effective on firm ground, having won the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream in March.

“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 really didn’t do her any justice. When she trained on firm ground down in Florida, she was brilliant in her works.”

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Newspaperofrecord was headstrong early as she opened up a 1 1/2-length lead through splits of 23.96 seconds for the quarter, a half-mile in 48.58, and six furlongs in 1:12.48.

“She never gave me a break to put my hands down and relax – never,” Ortiz said. “I fight her to get her slowed down, but she just kept going. We’ll work it out and try to relax her. I’m pretty sure Chad will try something different.”

Winning rider Jose Ortiz said his mindset on Cambier Parc was to follow Newspaperofrecord, “and if she comes back, she comes back. If not, we’ll try to run a good second.”

Ortiz said that when Newspaperofrecord “didn’t open up on me, I knew I had her. My filly has a beautiful, big stride.”

Cambier Parc covered the 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:46.34 and returned $12.40 as the 5-1 second choice.

While Cambier Parc will definitely point to the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Oaks on July 6, it remains to be seen if Brown will try 1 1/4 miles with Newspaperofrecord.

“What I’d like to see next time if we go on to the Belmont Oaks is if she has someone to follow maybe a little deeper into the stretch,” Brown said. “I just wonder if she’s getting a little lost being so alone when she kicked clear now twice in the stretch in her races.”