Breeders' Cup Classic: Phileas Fogg connections still hope to enter him despite tender foot

ELMONT, N.Y. - Phileas Fogg had an exceptionally fast workout Sunday morning at Belmont Park and afterward had some pulse in his left front foot. However, his connections still plan on pre-entering him in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic with the hope that the foot will be in good enough shape to run in the Oct. 31 race at Keeneland.

After speaking with an official from the Breeders’ Cup, owner Steve Shapiro said he was told if the veterinarians don’t permit Phileas Fogg to enter or run, he would get his pre-entry and entry fees, totaling $150,000, refunded.

“We’re really planning on pre-entering,” Shapiro said. “I think Gus can get the foot right. I think we’ll be all right.”

Shapiro was referring to trainer Gustavo Rodriguez, who said he first noticed something amiss with Phileas Fogg following his Oct. 11 work, which went in 1:00.75. By midweek, Rodriguez had Phileas Fogg equipped with glue-on shoes and the foot seemed to improve. Phileas Fogg was checked by Rodriguez and a veterinarian Sunday morning before working.

Phileas Fogg was the first horse to work following the mid-morning renovation break. Under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Phileas Fogg went five furlongs in 56.88 seconds. Daily Racing Form caught him in splits of 11.70 seconds, 22.80, 33.84 and had him galloping out six furlongs in 1:09.28, and he did that without Carmouche asking him.

Back at the barn, Rodriguez said the horse was “a little ouchy” on his left front foot.

“He worked too fast,” Rodriguez said. “I regret not working him myself.”

Rodriguez believes following his Oct. 11 breeze, Phileas Fogg stepped on a rock or another horse’s lost shoe on the track, which caused him discomfort on his left front foot.

“He was walking a little bit ouchy,” Rodriguez said. “We put the glue-ons on, we got him good.”

Rodriguez was planning to keep Phileas Fogg in New York until Oct. 26 - which is entry day - when he is scheduled to ship to Kentucky. Horses entered in Breeders’ Cup races have to be on the grounds by 11 a.m. Oct. 27.

Phileas Fogg, who won the Grade 2 Suburban by 10 lengths in July before finishing last in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is at the very least a pace factor in the Classic. Shapiro, a longtime owner and handicapper, believes the horse is better than he was last year - he also won the Suburban in 2025 - and “is in a class with all of the other horses,” Shapiro said. “I believe he belongs in the Breeders’ Cup and hopefully we’ll be able to run. I want to do it.”

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