Peter Pan loses Bourbon War, picks up Global Campaign

ELMONT, N.Y. – Saturday’s Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park lost one potential starter with the news that Bourbon War was heading to the Preakness. It picked up another runner when Global Campaign failed to get into last Saturday’s Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Stanley Hough confirmed Monday that Global Campaign will run in the Grade 3, $300,000 Peter Pan, a one-turn 1 1/8-mile race that will be one of five stakes on Saturday’s card at Belmont Park.

Global Campaign, a son of Curlin owned by Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm, won his first two starts before finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 2. He tore the quarter off a front foot in that race, and missed significant training time.

Hough was hoping to bring Global Campaign back in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs, but he could not draw in from the also-eligible list.

“I wanted to go around one turn,” Hough said Monday. “I wasn’t anxious to go a mile and an eighth because he missed some time. I think it’s going to be a short field.”

The New York Racing Association lists only Final Jeopardy, Intrepid Heart, Sir Winston, and potentially Joevia as others pointing to the Peter Pan.

“I think he’s a really good horse,” Hough said. “He really tore his quarter pretty bad in the Fountain of Youth, so I can’t judge that race.”

Global Campaign on Monday worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 at Churchill Downs. He will be ridden by Luis Saez in the Peter Pan.

Global Campaign was expected to ship from Churchill Downs by van on Tuesday along with Recruiting Ready, who is pointing to Saturday’s $150,000 Runhappy Stakes.

Recruiting Ready won the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship before finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Commonwealth at Keeneland with a troubled inside trip.

“He only got beat 2 1/2 lengths,” Hough said. “If he would have got through I think he would have been right there.”

Recruiting Ready worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 Monday morning at Churchill.

Others pointing to the Runhappy include Always Sunshine, Firenze Fire, Killybegs Captain, and Skyler’s Scramjet.