Cambier Parc rallies to win Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. – Cambier Parc was one of two 3-year-old fillies trainer Chad Brown sent across the United States for Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

After the long journey, Cambier Parc won the $300,000 race thanks in part to an efficient ride by jockey John Velazquez. Closing from seventh in a field of 14, Cambier Parc raced on the inside for the first half of the race and rallied wide to win the most prestigious race of her career as the favorite.

The win gave prominent owner Larry Best his first Grade 1 victory three years after he first invested in racing. He compared the win to the thrill of watching Instilled Regard finish fourth in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

“I’ve been in this for less than 36 months,” Best said. “It’s probably the highlight, next to the Kentucky Derby my first year.”

That September, Best paid $1.25 million for Cambier Parc at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Cambier Parc, by Medaglia d’Oro, has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $497,460 in a career that began last November.

Cambier Parc ($4.40) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.75 in the Del Mar Oaks. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Velazquez, riding Cambier Parc for the first time, said the filly was patient running in the middle of the field.

“We had good position going into the first turn,” Velazquez said. “I saved a lot of ground.”

Hidden Message, a recent import from England, was fifth on the backstretch. Hidden Message rallied wide on the turn, with Cambier Parc in pursuit. With a five-wide rally, Cambier Parc took the lead in the final sixteenth, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Hidden Message.

“When I asked her, she moved right away,” Velazquez said.

Hidden Message (9-1) won the Coral Distaff Stakes at Sandown Park in July in her final start in England.

“My filly ran great,” said Flavien Prat, who rode Hidden Message.

Lady Prancealot (15-1) finished third, a half-length behind Hidden Message.

Keeper Ofthe Stars finished fourth, followed by Hard Legacy, Maxim Rate, Mucho Unusual, Raymundos Secret, Wildlife, Dogtag, Apache Princess, Out of Balance, and Sold It.

Cambier Parc won two Grade 3 races earlier this year – the Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March in her stakes debut and the Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont Park in June. Cambier Parc was third to Concrete Rose in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 6 in her final start before her first California appearance on Saturday.