Campaign Earns First Stakes Victory in Tokyo City Cup
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Campaign wins his first stakes in the Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita Park
John Sadler is starting to show a knack for turning East Coast horses into West Coast graded stakes winners. His latest example came with Woodford Racing's Campaign, who overcame a slow pace to rally to his first stakes win in the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup (G3) April 14 at Santa Anita Park.
Sadler also won the Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes (G2) and the April 6 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1) with formerly New York-based Gift Box, whom Hronis Racing purchased from William Farish.
Campaign began his career with Chad Brown and made one start at 2. He was away 10 months before reappearing with Steve Asmussen and broke his maiden third time out once switched to the turf at Kentucky Downs. The Curlin colt won an allowance there before finishing 10th in the Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.
Campaign's West Coast and 4-year-old debut came Feb. 3 in allowance optional-claiming race, and he rallied to win by a neck going 1 1/16 miles. He then stretched out to 1 1/4 miles in the Santa Anita Handicap to finish fourth.
"The race set up perfectly, and coming back on short rest, you have to be really careful with that," Sadler said. "I don't do it very often, but I thought this was a case where I could do it. Turning for home, I felt pretty good because he'll run all day. He's a true stayer."
Against lighter competition in the Tokyo City Cup, Campaign broke from the rail under jockey Rafael Bejarano and dropped back to last in the five-horse field. Stablemate Acker led through fractions of :26.01, :51.57, 1:18.18, and 1:43.66. Campaign was 7 1/2 lengths behind him through the first half-mile of the marathon race.
Bejarano guided Campaign four wide into the stretch, and the pair drew off by 3 1/4 lengths, wrapping up the 1 1/2-mile feature in 2:34.73. Beach View was up for second ahead of Acker and Arch Prince. Full of Luck was pulled up in the stretch and walked off.
"I had a lot of confidence in this horse today because I've ridden him in his last two races," Bejarano said. "In the Big 'Cap, he didn't have any pace to run at. Today, he was very relaxed and he was full of run going into the far turn. I didn't want to try and go inside because I know this horse likes to make a run on the outside.
"At the top of the stretch, I was about two or three lengths behind Beach View, and I was very confident. John's done a great job with this horse, and I want to thank him for the opportunity."
Expectations have been high for Campaign, who was bred in Kentucky by Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds. Lane's End went to $675,000 for him at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Gainesway. Sunday's race improved his record to 4-1-0 in eight starts and bumped his earnings to $310,753.
Campaign is the second foal out of the unraced Dynaformer mare Arania, who has two winners from three starters. His unnamed 2-year-old half brother by Speightstown sold at Keeneland September for $360,000, and Arania foaled a Speightstown filly in 2018. Campaign's second dam, Aurora, produced Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) winner Acoma and Super Derby (G1) winner Arch, a Claiborne Farm stallion who sired three champions and an English highweight.