Antiquarian Seeks Redemption in Suburban Stakes

On America's 250th birthday at Saratoga Race Course, Centennial Farms' Antiquarian will look to turn the tables in the $500,000 Suburban Stakes (G2), avenging the narrow defeat he suffered to Phileas Fogg in last year's running of the 1 1/4-mile race. Antiquarian should relish the pace setup Saturday, where he will face 10 rivals, including Phileas Fogg. The son of Preservationist enters the race off a flat fourth-place finish in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) behind top miler Nysos. "Stretching him back out was Todd's plan since then," Donald Little Jr., president of Centennial Farms, said. "The Met Mile was a tough race—Nysos, Journalism, Knightsbridge—and we are not a flat miler or anything like that, but we tried with the history of the Met Mile; many of the winners were classic horses." Although he missed the mark in the Met Mile, Antiquarian's career-defining victory came in last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), also over the Saratoga oval at 1 1/4 miles, which remains a source of optimism that he will bounce back. Antiquarian proved he is up for the task June 27, posting a bullet 4-furlong breeze in :48. "That was a really nice breeze. He worked solo," Little said. "As of right now, all systems are go... this year will be a great (Breeders' Cup) Classic that everyone's going to be working towards. It'll be interesting." Antiquarian's trainer, Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, will also send out St. Elias Stable's homebred Classicist. The son of Curlin enters Saturday's race off a win in an allowance optional claimer May 23. On May 1, Phileas Fogg won his first race since his victory in the Suburban last year. The Gustavo Rodriguez-trained gelding took an allowance optional claimer by 5 3/4 lengths. He enters the race off a two-month freshening. The field is loaded with star power and includes last year's Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show, who finished a narrowly beaten third May 30 in the Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs after a troubled trip. He ships to Saratoga for the first time since his fifth-place finish in the 2023 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2). C2 Racing Stable, Mathis Stable, and TCC Stables' Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) winner Forged Steel, who scratched from the June 27 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), will look to best morning-line favorite Antiquarian. The speedy son of Vekoma trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. secured his first graded stakes win in the Hollywood Gold Cup by 9 1/2 lengths. Trainer Bill Mott enters two horses—Parchment Party and the aptly named Stars and Stripes. Both horses enter fresh, making their first starts since stakes victories in April.