Global Campaign Gallops to Peter Pan Score
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Global Campaign wins the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park
After grabbing a quarter en route to a fifth-place in the March 2 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), Global Campaign reappeared right as rain May 11 with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.
The 3-year-old son of Curlin was given time by Sagamore Farm, WinStar Farm, and trainer Stanley Hough when he sustained the minor injury at Gulfstream Park and rewarded their patience with a clear score over the late-running Sir Winston in the 1 1/8-mile 3-year-old test.
Global Campaign, a half brother to grade 1 winner and sire Bolt d'Oro , sat just off the pace set by 18-1 shot Federal Case, who showed the way through opening fractions of :23.19 and :46 flat.
"It went quicker than we thought it would," Hough said of the early fractions. "We didn't want to end up in a duel, but it looked like he did it pretty comfortably.
"He missed some training after the Fountain of Youth, so (the distance) was a concern, but we did want to go one turn."
Heading into the turn for home as three-quarters went in 1:10.16, jockey Luis Saez gave Global Campaign the cue to take over, and the bay colt took the lead and widened away.
Sir Winston, closing from the back of the five-horse field, made a strong late rally but could not get up in time for the score. The final time was 1:46.71 on a fast main track. Even-money favorite Intrepid Heart stumbled at the start and was a non-threatening third, 4 3/4 lengths back.
Global Campaign, sent off at odds of 2-1, returned $6 on a $2 win ticket. He now holds a 3-for-4 record, with earnings of $228,480. Purchased for $250,000 by Sagamore from the Select Sales consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he was bred in Kentucky by WinStar and is the third foal out of the A.P. Indy mare Globe Trot, also the dam of multiple stakes winner Sonic Mule.
While the Peter Pan is a traditional local prep for the June 8 Belmont Stakes (G1), Hough remained noncommittal regarding Global Campaign's next target.
"We just wanted to get him back. We believe in the horse, but you just never know until he does it. He was good in his first couple of races, and I thought he had an excuse in the Fountain of Youth, so we'll see where he takes us," he said.