Global Campaign Champions Peter Pan

ELMONT, NY – Trainer Stanley Hough’s Global Campaign made a triumphant return to the track on Saturday, bouncing back from his first career defeat last out to champion the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.

Breaking from post 3 under Luis Saez as the 2/1 second choice, Global Campaign ran along the outside off of early leader Federal Case through quick opening fractions of :23.19, :46.00, and 1:10.16. Midway through the far turn, Global Campaign began advancing to the lead while Saez remained motionless. Behind them, Final Jeopardy and the even-money favorite Intrepid Heart struggled to keep up.

Set down for the drive as he straightened for home, Global Campaign edged clear and began separating himself, but a serious threat soon presented itself. After trailing by over 11 lengths at one point, Sir Winston found his best footing late and came flying with a flurry down the middle of the lane. His charge proved to be too little, too late, though, as Global Campaign was able to cross with a 1 1/4-length advantage.

Co-owned by Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm (who also bred him), the winner’s final time was 1:46.71 for the 1 1/8-mile event over the fast main track.

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“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. We didn’t want to end up in a duel, but it looked like he did it pretty comfortably.”

Sir Winston’s strong finish propelled him 4 3/4 lengths clear of Intrepid Heart, who stumbled out of the gate and never fully recovered. Final Jeopardy weakened in the stretch run after making a failed bid for the front and finished fourth, while Federal Case fell back steadily before completing the order of finish in fifth.

Global Campaign’s win was his third in four career starts, all in 2019, with his lone defeat coming last out in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) when he grabbed a quarter coming out of the gate. The 3-year-old son of Curlin, out of an A.P. Indy mare, looks primed and ready to step up to the Belmont Stakes (G1) here on June 8.

“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. “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.”

Global Campaign returned $6 to win, $3.90 to place, and $2.70 to show. Sir Winston brought back $8.10 to place and $3 to show, while Intrepid Heart paid $2.30 to show.