Cambodia must stay composed

DEL MAR, Calif. – Drayden Van Dyke considers his winning ride aboard Cambodia in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 5 to be a learning experience. The Yellow Ribbon was Van Dyke’s first time aboard Cambodia in a race. He discovered that cooperating with the 5-year-old mare is key.

“The biggest thing is to get her to relax,” Van Dyke said on Wednesday.

That knowledge will help Van Dyke when he rides Cambodia in Saturday’s Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar. Trained by Tom Proctor for Winter Quarter Farm, Cambodia is part of a strong field of 13.

The lone American Grade 1 winner in the field is Decked Out, who won the Grade 1

Americanfillies Trainerin at her Santa Paulo Oaks most AnitaLobo for recenthas last 3-year-old entered Decemberstart. two winners South– AmericanKiss Me Now Group and 1 Pretty Girl.

Trainer Richard Baltas has three runners – Goodyearforroses, Insta Erma, and Hillhouse High. Goodyearforroses won the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita in March.

Madame Stripes won the restricted Osunitas Stakes here on July 21. The multiple stakes winner Mrs McDougal was third in the Osunitas in her first start for trainer Richard Mandella, and also returns in the Mabee. Cambodia, by War Front Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-95

◗ The Mabee will be the longest race yet for Cambodia, which does not concern Van Dyke. He was impressed with Cambodia’s finish in the Yellow Ribbon, where Pretty Girl got within a half-length at the wire. To Van Dyke, Cambodia’s advantage was not in question.

“I think she would have dug in,” he said.

◗ Van Dyke said Cambodia needs to be kept quiet in the warm-up.

“The post parade is key,” he said. “You’ve got to let her do her own thing. She’s quirky.” Mrs McDougal, by Medaglia d’Oro Last 3 Beyers: 91-101-94 ◗ Mrs McDougal won three stakes when trained by Chad Brown in 2015 and 2016. In the Osunitas, Mrs McDougal was beaten two lengths after racing within 1 1/4 lengths of the lead with a furlong remaining.

“She turned for home like she had dead aim, and she hung a little bit,” Mandella said. “She hadn’t run in a long time.”

Goodyearforroses, by Azamour Last 3 Beyers: 102-96-96

◗ Goodyearforroses has not raced since finishing second to Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 27. Since then, Lady Eli has won two graded stakes at Saratoga.

Decked Out, by Street Boss Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-93

◗ Decked Out missed the CTT and TOC Handicap on Aug. 16 because of illness but has worked twice since then.