Campaign Punches Pacific Classic Ticket in Cougar II
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Campaign wins the Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar
Woodford Racing's Campaign made jockey Rafael Bejarano work for it, but in the end the son of Curlin responded at just the right time to win the $100,000 Cougar II Handicap (G3) July 24 at Del Mar.
Closing with a late rally after racing under strong encouragement in the early stages of the 1 1/2-mile dirt test, the 3-5 favorite turned back Itsinthepost en route to a 1 1/4-length score. The win punched his ticket to the Aug. 17 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), Del Mar's 1 1/4-mile summer highlight.
"I think we'll probably end up taking a shot at the Pacific Classic. He ran in the 'Big Cap' (the grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino) and was fourth, and there was no pace," trainer John Sadler said. "If he runs in the Pacific Classic and there's some pace in front of him, he might do some damage."
While For the Top took the lead in the Cougar II with Morse Code in close pursuit, Campaign raced last in the field of five through slow early fractions of :24.56, :49.03, and 1:14.72, and was urged along strongly by Bejarano through several points in the race. He began to pick up steam through a 1:40.31 mile and targeted Itsinthepost, who took the lead off the turn for home.
Itsinthepost dug deep, but Campaign's momentum carried him past in deep stretch as those two separated themselves from the rest. The final time was 2:32.36 on a fast track.
"I had to get busy with him today at the six (furlong marker)," Bejarano said. "The fractions were so slow, and I knew I had to move up. And I knew that (Itsinthepost) is a good horse, and I didn't want him to get too far away. But this horse always does it. He did it again today."
"Rafael said he was a little lethargic today; it's a hot, sticky day and he runs from way back, but he'll get up in the late part, and he did," Sadler said.
Itsinthepost, a seven-time grade 2 winner on turf, held to claim runner-up honors in just his second trip on the main track from 39 starts. For the Top completed the trifecta 12 lengths back in third.
Distance has always been a good fit for Campaign, who broke his maiden at third asking over the trip in September 2018 on the turf at Kentucky Downs, then came back in seven days to win a 1 5/16-mile allowance there while trained by Steve Asmussen. He wrapped his season last year with an off-the-board finish in the Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland in October and was not seen again until February, when he debuted for the Sadler barn and won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer in the slop at Santa Anita Park.
Rested until his fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap April 6, he then wheeled back and won the April 14 Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3) going 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita. Campaign entered the Cougar II as the 123-pound highweight off a troubled fourth in the June 8 Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.
Campaign was bred in Kentucky by Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds out of the unraced Dynaformer mare Arania, a half sister to significant Claiborne Farm stallion Arch, the grade 1-winning Empire Maker filly Acoma, and graded stakes winner Festival of Light, among others. Out of the stakes-winning Danzig mare Aurora, herself a daughter of grade 1 winner Althea, champion 2-year-old filly of 1983, Arania's last reported foal was a 2018 Speightstown filly. She was barren on a cover to Mastery for 2019.
A $675,000 purchase by Lane's End from Gainesway's consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Campaign improved his record to five wins and a second from 10 starts, with earnings of $394,753.