Global Campaign, Owendale Headline Ohio Derby

While the 3-year-old division still tries to sort itself out, seven colts and geldings are entered for the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) June 22 at JACK Thistledown Racino, topped by Peter Pan Stakes (G3) winner Global Campaign and Preakness Stakes (G1) third-place finisher Owendale.

Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm's Global Campaign, a half brother to dual grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro , has won three of his four career starts, all this year. He debuted Jan. 5 at Gulfstream Park and won by 5 3/4 lengths while wrapped up by Jockey Luis Saez at the end of the seven-furlong maiden special weight. The bay colt then aced his two-turn test in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming event Feb. 9.

The March 2 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) is the only blemish on Global Campaign's record. While tracking in third, he grabbed a quarter and faded to fifth. The foot injury kept him off the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

"We were able to put a plate on it," trainer Stanley Hough said. "When he ran in the Peter Pan he was fine with that, but when we took the shoe off, he lost his frog from running, I think still related to that foot problem, so then back on with the pad and letting that grow out. All between his races we've had to kind of fight the foot problem, but he's good now and I think it'll be fine Saturday."

Global Campaign returned to the work tab in late March right before moving up to Churchill Downs. The son of Curlin  showed no problems in his May 11 return when he shipped to Belmont Park for the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan. After stalking the pace, Global Campaign opened up by three in the stretch and held off a late run from Sir Winston to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

While Hough decided to skip the Belmont Stakes (G1), Sir Winston went on to upset the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Should all go well in the Ohio Derby, Hough could send Global Campaign to either the July 20 TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park or the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) a week later at Saratoga Race Course with the Aug. 24 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) as the goal.

"He's a special horse, he really is," Hough said. "He does great with company. He's matured a lot. He was pretty playful as a young horse and he's maturing now later in his 3-year-old year, so he's becoming less difficult. But he's always been a really good work horse and always showed a lot of talent from day one."

Rupp Racing's Owendale has found his best stride in his last two starts. The Into Mischief  colt broke through in the April 13 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland before running third beaten 1 1/4 lengths by War of Will in the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.

Owendale tuned up with a bullet five-furlong breeze June 15 at Churchill Downs, timed in :59 2/5. 

"It's a solid group. There's some runners in there," Cox said of the Ohio Derby. "I think he's got to run every bit as good as he did in the Preakness and the Lexington to get it done, and we think the way he's training and everything we'll get a good effort out of him."

Even with a good performance in the Preakness, Cox decided to bypass the Belmont. While the trainer's taking it one race at a time with Owendale, possible targets could include the Travers or Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing should Owendale run to his latest form.

"Looking at the race I think he should be able to handle the mile and an eighth," Cox said. "He's doing extremely well. He bounced out of the Preakness in good order. We just thought this made more sense than the Belmont, the timing of it and everything. We think he's set up for a big race."

Willis Horton Racing's Long Range Toddy hopes to rebound following two off-the-board finishes, both on sloppy tracks. After winning a division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, the Take Charge Indy colt ran sixth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and 16th in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

"I blame it on the weather. We know he's better than that," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "If we don't see him at his best, then the circumstances are secondary. We're hoping for a fast track."

Rounding out the field are Math Wizard, fourth in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) and the Oaklawn Invitational Stakes; Going for Gold, a maiden in four starts; Bethlehem Road, winner of the Parx Spring Derby and undefeated in three starts at Parx; and Dare Day, winner of two career starts in Ohio.

Entries: Ohio Derby (G3)

Thistledown, Saturday, June 22, 2019, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 3 yo
• 5:10 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Math Wizard (KY)	Edgard J. Zayas	120	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	8/1
2	2Owendale (KY)	Florent Geroux	122	Brad H. Cox	9/5
3	3Long Range Toddy (KY)	Jon Kenton Court	124	Steven M. Asmussen	5/2
4	4Global Campaign (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Stanley M. Hough	3/1
5	5Going for Gold (KY)	Jose A. Bracho	120	Anthony T. Quartarolo	20/1
6	6Bethlehem Road (KY)	Luis A. Rodriguez Castro	120	Dee Curry	6/1
7	7Dare Day (OH)	Luis Raul Rivera	120	Jeffrey A. Radosevich	15/1