Phileas Fogg runs back in Woodward after Jockey Club Gold Cup DQ

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When it comes to Phileas Fogg, trainer Gustavo Rodriguez has decided there’s no place like home.

Thus, instead of waiting for a race out of town next month, Rodriguez and owner Steve Shapiro have opted to supplement Phileas Fogg in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct for a fee of $1,500.

Phileas Fogg won the Grade 2 Suburban on July 4 at Saratoga and then came back and crossed the wire third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. The stewards disqualified Phileas Fogg and ordered him unplaced for coming over on horses soon after the break and starting a chain reaction that led to jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. being unseated from Mindframe.

In the days after the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Rodriguez said the Woodward being four weeks from that race might be too close to run him back. But the alternatives, races at Keeneland or Churchill Downs, were less attractive.

“We kept looking at everything, the best thing for us and for the horse is to run over here,” Rodriguez said Monday. “Nothing like running at home.”

Phileas Fogg, a 5-year-old gelding, has five wins and two seconds from eight starts since Rodriguez and Shapiro claimed him for $62,500 in July 2024. He is 3 for 4 at Aqueduct, including wins in the Queens County last December and the Excelsior in April.

Rodriguez has worked Phileas Fogg twice since the Jockey Club Gold Cup, including a half-mile move in 48 seconds, the fastest of 42 works at the distance on Monday morning over Belmont Park’s training track.

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“Everything went beautiful, I worked him a week ago and he worked nice today,” Rodriguez said. “Everything seems to be good.”

Phileas Fogg drew post 6 in the seven-horse field and will be ridden again by Kendrick Carmouche.

Locked won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March but is winless in two starts since. He finished third behind Phileas Fogg and Antiquarian in the Suburban. Antiquarian came back to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup and is pointing to the Breeder’ Cup Classic.

The Woodward field drew Post Time, an eight-time stakes winner and 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner-up; Awesome Aaron, who beat Phileas Fogg in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special; and Willy D’s, the Charles Town Classic runner-up. Willy D’s is cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill.

Gould’s Gold, third in the Charles Town Classic for trainer Kenny McPeek, and Film Star, recently claimed for $100,000 by Rob Atras and BellaBlue Racing, round out the field.

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