If you're still hungry for stakes action after the Kentucky Derby (G1) buffet, then Aqueduct Racetrack is the place to be May 3.
The Big A will offer a trio of $175,000 grade 3 stakes, topped by the Westchester Stakes (G3), a mile prep for the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
Though the Westchester has a field of just five starters, it offers an intriguing matchup between grade 1 and 2 winners in Antiquarian and Bishops Bay.
Grade 1 winner Antiquarian will be making his first start since finishing eighth last fall in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Owned by Centennial Farms, the son of Preservationist won the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) in his previous start for trainer Todd Pletcher.
He's raced in stakes in seven of his 10 starts, all of them at a two-turn distance. The last time he ran in a one-turn test like the Westchester was his 2025 debut when he captured a 7-furlong allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
The main threat should be KAS Stables' 2025 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) winner Bishops Bay, who prevailed by a neck on the same surface and distance as the Westchester in that Dec. 6 stakes.
Running against some of the world's premier horses, such as the victorious Forever Young, he was fourth in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 14.
The son of Uncle Mo is a perfect 3-for-3 at Aqueduct—including a win in last year's Westchester—and 4-for-4 at the mile distance.
The field also includes Rated by Merit, who was fourth in the 7-furlong Carter Stakes (G2) at the Big A; Quint's Brew, who was second in last year's Westchester and was an easy winner of the Frank Y. Whiteley Stakes at Laurel Park in his last start; and Pentathlon, winner of the Army Mule Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Laurelin faces older rivals in Beaugay
The Beaugay Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/16-mile grass stakes for older fillies and mares, features the return of Newstead Stables' Laurelin, a grade 2-winning 4-year-old daughter of Zarak. Trained by Graham Motion, she has won five of seven career starts, closing out 2025 with runner-up finishes in the Jockey Club Oaks (G3T) and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T).
This will be her initial start against older rivals.
Trainer Chad Brown will make his presence felt in the field of six with the uncoupled duo of grade 1 winner Dynamic Pricing and City Girl.
Dynamic Pricing is exiting a fourth in the April 11 Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T).
Competitive field of 7 in Vagrancy
The Vagrancy Stakes (G3), a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, attracted a competitive field of seven including grade 2 winner Kappa Kappa. Winner of the 7-furlong Raven Run Stakes (G2) last fall at Keeneland, the 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach stretched out to a mile and an eighth for the Comely Stakes (G3) last time out and finished sixth. But she has been working sharply since then for the ownership group of LC Racing and trainer Butch Reid.
With the Angels and Grammy Girl are both coming off sprint stakes wins over the track.
Belmont at the Big A, Sunday, May 3, 2026, Race 7Entries: Westchester S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Pentathlon (KY) Dylan Davis 122 Claude R. McGaughey III - 2 Bishops Bay (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Brad H. Cox - 3 Antiquarian (KY) John R. Velazquez 124 Todd A. Pletcher - 4 Quint's Brew (MD) Forest Boyce 122 Edward T. Allard - 5 Rated by Merit (FL) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Chad C. Brown -
Belmont at the Big A, Sunday, May 3, 2026, Race 8Entries: Beaugay S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Dynamic Pricing (IRE) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Chad C. Brown - 2 City Girl (FR) Flavien Prat 120 Chad C. Brown - 3 Shore War (KY) Jaime Rodriguez 120 Amelia J. Green - 4 Racing Colors (NY) Dalila A. Rivera 120 Norman C. Follett - 5 Mo Fox Givin (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Mark E. Casse - 6 Laurelin (IRE) Kendrick Carmouche 124 H. Graham Motion -
Belmont at the Big A, Sunday, May 3, 2026, Race 10Entries: Vagrancy S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Wondrous (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Brendan P. Walsh - 2 My Magic Wand (NY) Manuel Franco 120 Gregory D. Sacco - 3 Kappa Kappa (PA) John R. Velazquez 124 Robert E. Reid, Jr. - 4 With the Angels (NY) Jose Lezcano 122 Linda Rice - 5 Grammy Girl (KY) Javier Castellano 124 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 6 Praying (KY) Eric Cancel 124 Robert Medina - 7 Mystic Lake (FL) Flavien Prat 124 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. -
