Phileas Fogg ends three-month layoff with convincing Queens County win

OZONEPARK, N.Y. - The gelding Phileas Fogg and his jockey Romero Maragh could be poised for a big winter.

With Maragh in the saddle, Phileas Fogg, returning from a three-month layoff due to a throat infection, dueled early with Unlimitedpotential, put that one away entering the far turn, then bounded home a convincing eight-length winner of Sunday’s $150,000 Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct.

Curbstone, a 22-1 shot, rallied to get second by three-quarters of a length over 3-5 favorite Law Professor. Instant Coffee, Tabeguache and Unlimitedpotential completed the order of finish. Masmak, Quality Chic, Repo Rocks, Film Star and Surface to Air all scratched.

The win was the third straight for Phileas Fogg since trainer Gus Rodriguez claimed him for $62,500 in July at Saratoga. It was the 4-year-old gelding’s first stakes win and first stakes for Rodriguez since going out on his own in 2021. He was the trainer of record when Ackeret won the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes in 2015. Back then, Gustavo was an assistant to his brother Rudy Rodriguez, who at that time was serving a suspension.

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It was the third stakes victory in the last two months for Maragh, who will look to carry that momentum into the winter meet, which begins Wednesday.

“I’m just happy to be here for the winter and having a lot of momentum going forward into the new year,” Maragh, cousin of jockey Rajiv Maragh, said. “My agent [Rudy Rodriguez Jr.] has done a phenomenal job. I have to thank all the connections that have given me a lot of opportunities.”

Maragh had the opportunity to work Phileas Fogg on Dec. 12 and the horse went five furlongs in 59.20 seconds over the Belmont training track.

“I’m not sure how fast he went, it’s how he did it,” Maragh said. “I’ve ridden a lot of good horses and the way he carries himself, the way he moves, the way he levels off when you ask him, it’s just different. It’s seriously one of the best feelings just riding him.”

Phileas Fogg’s weapon is his speed and in the Queens County Maragh sent him away from the gate, but he had longshot Unlimitedpotential to his outside. The pair dueled through a half-mile in 47.69 seconds but, going into the far turn, Unlimitedpotential began to retreat. Phileas Fogg’s ears went up, which made Rodriguez, watching from the stands, happy.

“Usually, when they [do that] they have something left,” Rodriguez said. “I thought we were going to be all right.”

Approaching the top of the stretch, Law Professor, under Kendrick Carmouche, came off the rail, and looked as though he was going to make a race of it, but Phileas Fogg had plenty left with which to finish and opened up.

Phileas Fogg, a son of Astern owned by Jupiter Stable, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.48 over the sloppy track and returned $9.80 as the third choice.

“At the top of the lane, when I got after him and made him switch leads, I had a ton of horse left,” Maragh said. “He was just playing around the last eighth of a mile.”

Local stakes options for older dirt males are limited this winter at Aqueduct, with the next stakes being the $150,000 Stymie going a one-turn mile on March 1. There is a $90,000 no-condition allowance race at 1 1/8 miles here on Jan. 25.

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