Finally, Campbell good to go

The redraw for the twice-postponed John B. Campbell Handicap had no effect on either probable favorite P Day or one of his chief challengers, Pickupspeed. But it did have a major impact on the chances of Hay Geoutofmyway and Full Brush.

P Day, an 8-year-old gelding who has earned 11 of his 14 lifetime victories at Laurel Park, will still break from post 9 in the field of 11 older horses in Sunday's $100,000 Campbell. That's the same gate he drew when the 1 1/8-mile race was originally supposed to be run last Sunday and again on Presidents Day. Both programs were wiped out by snowstorms.

An ultra-consistent horse, P Day has earned four consecutive Beyer Speed Figures from 96 to 98, including in his last two starts, which were stakes victories.

Pickupspeed is one of five horses separated by less than two lengths in last month's Native Dancer Stakes who are returning in the Campbell. He remained stuck in post 11 when the race was redrawn. That's not a good place to be, considering the short run to the first turn.

Pickupspeed has gone a year since his last victory. Recently, however, Pickupspeed has been knocking on the door, losing his last three starts, all stakes, by a combined margin of three lengths.

The redraw substantially improved the chances of Hay Getoutoftheway and placed Full Brush at a severe disadvantage.

Hay Getoutofmyway will now break from the rail instead of post 8. He was also outside when he finished third, a neck behind P Day, in the Native Dancer on Jan. 11. Near-misses are the story of the 4-year-old Hay Getoutofmyway's career. In eight starts at Laurel, he has just one win and five seconds.

If the Campbell would have been run last weekend, Full Brush would have had the rail. Now, he's in post 10.

With a cleaner trip, 8-year-old Full Brush might have beaten P Day in the Native Dancer. Full Brush had to wait for an opening between horses in upper stretch, then was bothered slightly with about a furlong remaining and just missed. Three of his last four Beyer Figures have been either a 98 or 99.

Lyracist, who breaks from post 2, won the Campbell a year ago at 16-1 and came from far back to finish within 1 3/4 lengths of P Day in the Native Dancer. That was his first start in five months. Lyracist then moved forward last time out to win an optional claimer with a 98 Beyer.

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