Campaign just needs cleaner trip in Cougar II Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. – A bit of luck would have helped Campaign in the final furlong of the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on June 8. He raced in traffic in the final strides and was beaten three-quarters of a length.

“He should have won,” trainer John Sadler said over the weekend.

Sadler’s next objective for Campaign is Wednesday’s Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Del Mar, where the 4-year-old colt figures to be a strong favorite in a field of seven. Owned by Woodford Racing, Campaign drew the outside post and is the only 2019 stakes winner in a field that includes three horses who have run for claiming prices this year – Original Intent, Premium Forest, and Zestful.

Itsinthepost, a multiple graded stakes winner on turf, will have his second start on dirt Wednesday in his 39th race. Morse Code, fifth in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on turf at Santa Anita on May 25, will have his stakes debut on dirt.

The race has an international feel with the presence of For the Top, a Group 1 winner in Argentina last year.

:: Get PPs, Clocker Reports, picks, and more from DRF's Saratoga/Del Mar One-Stop Shop

KEY CONTENDERS

Campaign, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 94-95-94

◗ The Cougar II Handicap will be Campaign’s fourth consecutive appearance in a graded stakes. He was fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on April 6 and won the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles eight days later at Santa Anita.

“When he ran in the Big Cap, there was no pace,” Sadler said. “He’s better if there is a good, honest pace. He’s a deep closer.”

◗ On Wednesday, Campaign should have a pace to follow from Morse Code, who finished fourth in an optional claimer on turf here July 17, and Zestful, who has won his last four starts, all at Golden Gate Fields and Pleasanton.

◗ For Campaign, the $150,000 Cougar II Handicap could lead to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on dirt Aug. 17.

Itsinthepost, by American Post

Last 3 Beyers: 77-93-89

◗ The Cougar II Handicap will be the first start on dirt for Itsinthepost since a second in the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita in January 2017, a race transferred from turf to dirt because of wet conditions.

◗ Trained by Jeff Mullins, Itsinthepost won four graded stakes on turf in the first five months of 2018 but is winless in his last three starts. In his only appearance this year, Itsinthepost finished last of 13 in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Churchill Downs on June 15.

“He laid too close, and he couldn’t keep up with those horses,” Mullins said.

For the Top, by Equal Stripes

Beyer: 86

◗ For the Top won the Group 1 Nacional Stakes at about 1 9/16 miles on dirt in Argentina last November and was third in that continent’s premier race for older horses – the Group 1 Carlos Pellegrini Internacional on turf last December.

◗ Now trained by Bob Baffert, For the Top was last of four in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at Santa Anita in June in his American debut, disputing the pace before fading in the final furlong.