Elsa Lorieul Photo

Global Campaign makes the grade in G3 Peter Pan

by Ryan Martin

Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm's promising Global Campaign made a triumphant return with a 1 ¼-length victory in the 65th running of Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Peter Pan, a nine-furlong test for sophomores over the Belmont Park main track.

Jockey Luis Saez settled Global Campaign two lengths off of pacesetter Federal Case, who recorded an opening quarter in 23.19 seconds and a half in 46 flat.

Around the turn, the Curlin colt took command and opened up as Federal Case gave way. Sir Winston made a big move from well off the pace in the final eighth of a mile, but was unable to catch Global Campaign who crossed the wire in a final time of 1:46.71.

Sir Winston finished second, 4 ¾ lengths ahead of odds-on favorite Intrepid Heart, who stumbled at the beginning of the race and made up considerable ground.

Final Jeopardy and Federal Case completed the order of finish.

A winner of his first two career starts, Global Campaign made amends following a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in March, where he finished 5 ½ lengths behind Kentucky Derby runner-up Code of Honor.

"I looked at the program and I knew that the 2 [Federal Case] would go to the lead," Saez said. "We tried to sit second, right there, if he was on the lead. We were in a perfect spot. The track is pretty fast. He was very comfortable in that position and when we came to the stretch, he was all right.

"It went quicker than we thought it would," Saez continued. "We didn't want to end up in a duel, but it looked like he did it pretty comfortably."

Trainer Stanley Hough said the distance was somewhat of a concern, but his horse passed the test on Saturday afternoon.

"He missed some training after the Fountain of Youth, so [the distance] was a concern, but we did want to go one turn," Hough said.

Hough said he was still unsure as to whether or not he would race Global Campaign in the final leg of the Triple Crown, after winning the local prep for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, set for June 8.

"We just wanted to get him back," Hough said. "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."

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Global Campaign returned $6 for a $2 win bet.

Global Campaign upped his lifetime earnings to the six-figure mark after banking $165,000 from the win. His career bankroll now stands at $228,480 with three victories in four career starts.

Bred in Kentucky by co-owner WinStar Farm, Global Campaign is out of the A.P. Indy broodmare Globe Trot whose three progeny of racing age are all stakes winners. In addition to Global Campaign, she also produced two-time Grade 1-winning millionaire Bolt d'Oro and two-time stakes winner Sonic Mule.