Phileas Fogg notches second consecutive Suburban Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Phileas Fogg led throughout before holding on desperately in the final strides to register a head victory over Antiquarian in the 2025 Suburban Stakes. But there was no such drama when Phileas Fogg returned a year later to defend that title, as he totally dominated an arguably stronger field that included Antiquarian in the 2026 Grade 2 fixture at Saratoga.

Kendrick Carmouche rode Phileas Fogg in last year’s Suburban, but was subsequently handed a five-day suspension for careless riding when the two returned to finish third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup here eight weeks later. Carmouche had to serve that suspension at the beginning of the 2026 meet, which opened Friday, although he was allowed to keep his regular seat aboard Phileas Fogg in the Suburban as a result of the designated race rule, which will extend his suspension an additional day through July 11.

As was the case in this event a year ago Phileas Fogg sprinted right to the lead while prompted from the outset by the 41-1 Yo Daddy and Forged Steel, wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita in his previous start. Phileas Fogg was able to set a reasonable early pace, an opening half-mile over the fast track in 48.59 seconds, easily disposed of his early pursuers leaving the final turn, then steadily increased his advantage when sharply roused by Carmouche through the final three-sixteenths.

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Hit Show, the 2025 Dubai World Cup winner, raced in mid-pack down the backstretch, steadied briefly in some traffic approaching the far turn, saved ground turning for home and proved second-best, finishing a length in front of Tiztastic. Antiquarian, the 3-2 favorite, came on to be fourth after losing his best chance when stumbling at the start.

Phileas Fogg, who was supplemented, not nominated, to the Suburban, is trained by Gustavo Rodriguez for Jupiter Stable LLC. He completed the distance in 2:01.70, more than a second faster than his winning time a year ago, and paid $19.82.

“He was training so good coming into the race. I told my owner he was doing better than last year,” Rodriguez said. “He won, but I didn’t expect him to win the way he did.”

Although there were some other speed runners in the lineup, Rodriguez said the strategy was to put Phileas Fogg on the lead from the outset.

“The plan was to grab the lead and take it from there,” Rodriguez said. “And Kendrick, he is beautiful on the lead. And this horse loves two turns. Going to the lead, he is very tough around two turns. He also loves Saratoga. Over here, when he gallops, he is a different horse.”

Trainer Brad Cox said he was pleased with Hit Show’s performance even in defeat.

“He ran great, big effort,” Cox said. “Obviously the winner was very good. We couldn’t reel him in. I didn’t figure to when turning for home, it looked like he was gone. But I loved the effort for him to get up to be second. We’ll see how the Whitney comes up, but he’s running well, he’s in good form. So that would be an option as well as the Jockey Club back at Belmont.”

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