Cambodia earns first stakes score in Gallorette

Cambodia powered to a win in the Grade 3 Gallorette. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Winter Quarter Farm’s Cambodia, narrowly beaten in three straight stakes to open the year, became a stakes winner for the first time Saturday at historic Pimlico Race Course in the 66th running of the $150,000 Stella Artois Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and older.

Jockey Florent Geroux guided Cambodia ($11.20) from the far outside Post 10 to stalk front-running 60-1 long shot Come to Mischief into the first turn and down the backstretch, going a quarter-mile in 24.63 seconds and the half in a leisurely 49.78. The 5-year-old War Front mare assumed the lead after straightening for home and edged clear to a two-length win in 1:44.35 for 1 1/16 miles over a good turf course.

“She was very sharp from the gate,” said Geroux. “We were in a great spot just off the horse on the lead. I kept her relaxed and turning for home she responded very well.”

On Leave, who was on hold in the early stages under Jose Ortiz, was second. Multiple graded stakes-placed Elysea’s World, sent off as the even-money favorite, raced at the back of the pack into the far turn before making a belated bid on the outside to get up for third, a neck ahead of Queen Caroline.

“She came rolling late,” said Chad Brown, trainer of Elysea’s World. “But it’s impossible to win from there when they go that slow. She would have had to be superman.”

Cambodia has now won three of six starts since joining the barn of trainer Tom Proctor, including a 1 1/16-mile allowance last fall at Laurel Park. She ran third in the Marie G. Krantz Memorial and Daisy Devine at Fair Grounds as well as Laurel’s one-mile Dahlia April 22 – beaten a total of 3 ¼ lengths.

She now has four wins from 10 starts in her career, with purse earnings of $181,746.