Phileas Fogg narrowly holds off Antiquarian to win Suburban

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Phileas Fogg has been the claim that has just kept on giving and on Friday at Saratoga, the 5-year-old gelding gave trainer Gustavo Rodriguez the biggest victory of his training career, holding on for a head victory over Antiquarian in the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban Stakes.

It was the first graded stakes win for Rodriguez, who after serving as a longtime assistant to his brother Rudy went out on his own in 2021. His first winner since doing that came on July 4, 2021 – he had previous wins when substituting for his brother during suspensions. Friday was Rodriguez’s first graded win after Phileas Fogg came up three-quarters of a length short in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on May 16.

“It’s unbelievable,” Rodriguez, 54, said. “It’s a beautiful feeling to win these kinds of races.”

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Rodriguez won a four-way shake to claim Phileas Fogg for $62,500 for owner Steve Shapiro’s Jupiter Stable out of a ninth-place in a turf race at Saratoga last July 13. Phileas Fogg won an off-the-turf optional-claimer at here on Aug. 3 and has now won five of seven starts for his new connections earning $570,750.

Four of those wins came from being on or pressing the pace. On paper, Phileas Fogg looked like the main speed in the Suburban under Kendrick Carmouche. Breaking from the rail, Carmouche was intent on getting to the front.

Phileas Fogg opened up a two-length advantage while running a quarter in 23.72 seconds to get there. He maintained a length advantage through a quarter in 47.83 seconds and six furlongs in 1:11.48. Phileas Fogg opened up a three-length advantage in mid-stretch but at the sixteenth pole he began to get leg weary. Antiquarian, who was chasing from second, made a late run at Phileas Fogg, but fell just short while finishing 6 1/4 lengths clear of his stablemate Locked, the 4-5 favorite.

Bendoog finished fourth, followed by San Siro, Awesome Aaron, and Honor Marie. Disarm scratched.

Phileas Fogg, a 5-year-old gelding by Astern, covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.97 and returned $14.40 to win as the fourth choice. Phileas Fogg earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

“Only one thing to do out of the one-hole, play a little cat-and-mouse going around there,” Carmouche said. “The last sixteenth he was getting a little late on me, but as soon as he felt that horse coming he leveled off again. Gustavo and the owners, what a wonderful claim; they got this horse as consistent as you can have a racehorse. They give him enough time in between races … and this is the outcome of it, [winning] the Suburban.”

Antiquarian and Locked, both trained by Todd Pletcher, were chasing Phileas Fogg from second and third the entire trip. Antiquarian, as he has done in the past, tried to back up on the far turn before re-rallying under John Velazquez.

“He goes through the first turn in hand, but the second turn, he loses concentration and then you have to ride him,” Velazquez said. “I got after him and he came running … it’s like ‘Why can’t you just stay where I want you, you know?’ “

Locked, dominant winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in March, was looking to rebound off a fourth-place finish to stablemate Fierceness in the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs. He saved ground under Jose Ortiz the entire trip but appeared to struggle with what looked like a deep track in the stretch.

“I saved all the ground, my horse is a horse that you need to ride and I did from the second turn to the wire,” Ortiz said. “The track, you can see horses are struggling a little bit too. I feel like I need some pace, a speed duel and my horse’s chances increase. [Phileas Fogg] got loose on the lead and got there.”

Rodriguez said he would enjoy this victory for awhile before deciding what might be next for Phileas Fogg. The options at Saratoga would be the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 2 and/or the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31.

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