Trainer Marcelo Polanco's post-race comments after Camille C's win in the $150,000 Melair Stakes were spot-on. The filly "stole" the stakes for 3-year-old state-bred fillies over 1 1-16 miles.
Camille C set a slow pace of 49.38 and 1:14.04, led by a half-length on the backstretch and pulled away late to win by 3 1-4 lengths. The Melair Stakes was her first win since the Generous Portion Stakes for state-bred female sprinters at Del Mar last summer, ended a six-race losing streak, and enhanced her career earnings to $269,551. Not bad for a $4,200 purchase by Polanco's brother, Carlos, at the 2009 Barretts January mixed sale.
Camille C finished 9 3-4 lengths in front of La Nez, the 3-5 favorite. La Nez was well-placed on the turn behind Camille C, but could not sustain the threat and faded badly through the stretch. It could be argued that she's just a better filly around one turn, judging from her win in the seven-furlong California Cup Juvenile Fillies last October (when she ran down pacesetter Camille C) and a third in the Grade 1 Darley Debutante at Del Mar last summer.
The division's best runner was not present. Evening Jewel is being pointed for Friday's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
