Cambier Parc goes wire to wire in Keeneland's QE II Challenge Cup
Cambier Parc, the only prior Grade 1 winner in the field for Saturday’s $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, hit the wire with that still ringing true.
The Del Mar Oaks (G1) heroine doubled up to take them all the way in Keeneland’s feature for turf fillies, completing 1 1/8 miles under jockey John Velazquez in 1:49.54.
A daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, Cambier Parc never seriously appeared challenged by her eight rivals, which included two Chad Brown-trained stablemates as well as Magnetic Charm, a European import running in the colors of Her Majesty, the Queen, the race’s namesake.
"As soon as she got to the lead, she relaxed very well," Velazquez said.
Fractions went in 23.70 and 49.18. They were never able to close after that as Cambier Parc ran on to improve her record to 5-0-1 in eight career starts.
Saturday’s QE II victory represented a new running style for Cambier Parc, who hadn’t set the pace in any of her three prior stakes wins. For comparison, Cambier Parc ran seventh of 11 four furlongs into the Del Mar Oaks, 7½ lengths off the lead.
"There wasn’t a lot of pace in the race," Brown said. "We know from her works – we’ve used her as a lead horse sometimes in her works, and she’s good that way. I gave (Velazquez) the option to go to the lead, and he took it. She really responded."
Castle Lady ran second, while Princesa Carolina edged Cafe Americano for third.
Cambier Parc was away as the 9-5 favorite and returned $5.60.
Velazquez made this his fifth victory in the QE II. Brown has now won it three times.
Cambier Parc’s now collected five wins over seven starts as a 3-year-old. Grade 3 stakes scores in Gulfstream Park’s Herecomesthebride and Belmont Park’s Wonder Again complement her back-to-back Grade 1 victories.
Brown said the QE II was "most likely" Cambier Parc's final start of her 3-year-old campaign.
"That’s what we talked about going into the race," Brown said. "Give her a real nice break (after this race). She’s got all the earmarks of a horse that’s going to have a great career at 4 and 5."