Changing course from a plan to run Global Campaign in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23 before beginning a stud career, WinStar Farm announced Nov. 25 the colt has been retired. He will stand the 2021 breeding season for a fee of $12,500.
Campaigned by Sagamore Farm and WinStar, the 4-year-old son of Curlin became a grade 1 winner this year, capturing the Woodwood Handicap (G1) this summer at Saratoga Race Course. He then followed that victory with a third in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7 behind Authentic and Improbable .
"We considered bringing him back for a final start in the (Pegasus) because he ran so well in the Breeders' Cup," said Elliott Walden, WinStar's president, CEO, and racing manager. "He shed his frog in that race and the timing of getting him back into training is not going to work, unfortunately. He has been very popular when people see him, and we are excited about standing him next year."
Global Campaign retires with a record of six wins from 10 starts and earnings of more than $1.3 million. Besides his victory in the Woodward, he captured this year's Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) and the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) last year at 3, beating Sir Winston , who would win the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) a start later. He was hampered by foot issues at times during his 3-year-old year.
He was trained throughout his career by Stanley Hough, who last week expressed optimism about the colt's prospects in the $3 million Pegasus after seeing him at WinStar. He has been at the farm since the Classic.
A winner from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, Global Campaign posted four Beyer Speed Figures of 101 or higher, topped by a 106 in the Classic. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar and out of the A.P. Indy mare Globe Trot, he is a half brother to multiple grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro and multiple stakes winner Sonic Mule. He was a $250,000 purchase by Sagamore Farm from the Select Sales consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Along with Global Campaign, five other starters from the 10-horse Breeders' Cup Classic have also been retired to stud, including four of the top five finishers, thinning the older dirt horse ranks.
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Two other Classic starters, seventh-place Title Ready and eighth-place By My Standards are entered in the Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs Nov. 27.
The Barclay Tagg-trained Tiz the Law , sixth in the Classic, is training in Florida toward the Pegasus, and he could be joined there by defending champion Mucho Gusto, who is breezing in California in advance of his return. The latter is unraced for trainer Bob Baffert since running fourth in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup.
Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Knicks Go is a possibility for the Pegasus, according to trainer Brad Cox.
