Phileas Fogg defends title in G2 Suburban pres. by Subourbon Life

By KEITH MCCALMONT

Photo provided by NYRA
Phileas Fogg defends title in G2 Suburban pres. by Subourbon Life

Jupiter Stable’s Phileas Fogg, expertly piloted by Kendrick Carmouche, made every pole a winning one to defend his crown in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life, at Saratoga Race Course.

In last year’s Suburban, the Gustavo Rodriguez trainee battled to a game head victory over returning rival Antiquarian in the 10-furlong test for older horses. On Saturday, Antiquarian, who last year pressed from second position the entire way, stumbled badly at the start and Carmouche took advantage, sending his charge to the lead and never looking back en route to a 10-length score.

Rodriguez said he was proud of Phileas Fogg, who banked $275,000 in victory to earn millionaire status with $1,170,373 in total purse earnings.

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

“The way he ran today, I thought he was going to run good, but to win the race and the way he did it, I didn’t expect that,” Rodriguez added. “That was the plan: grab the lead and take it from there. And Kendrick is beautiful on the lead.”

Phileas Fogg broke alertly from post 6 and immediately went to the front, angling over to the rail and showing the way through splits of 23.93 seconds and 48.59 over the fast main track with longshot Yo Daddy to his outside in second and Forged Steel saving ground in third.

“By the time I turned on the backside, I knew the race was won,” Carmouche said. “My horse was taking me. At no part during the race he was straining. I just had to wait to pull the trigger. I didn’t even do that. I just let him go a little.”

Phileas Fogg reached the far turn with a comfortable lead through three-quarters in 1:12.57 with Yo Daddy being asked for more and hunch bet Stars and Stripes launching a wide bid. But it was all to no avail as Phileas Fogg reached the stretch call with a seven-length advantage and powered away a confident winner in a final time of 2:01.70.

Hit Show completed the exacta by one length over Tiztastic with another neck back to a game Antiquarian, who battled between rivals to complete the superfecta. Rounding out the order of finish were Forged Steel, Yo Daddy, Parchment Party, Stars and Stripes, Original Sin, Obstacle and Classicist.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez said the troubled beginning made life difficult for the talented Todd Pletcher trainee Antiquarian.

“He stumbled at the start, nothing I can tell you. I was not supposed to be that far back. Today, it didn’t go our way,” Velazquez said.

Carmouche said the 6-year-old Astern gelding came into the race in fine fettle.

“He ran real good last year. This year, after the winter, he wasn’t doing as good. We gave him a little time,” Carmouche said. “I started working this horse again. This horse started eating, color started coming back. He was just a different horse.

“I know last time when I worked him, I let him go nice and easy,” Carmouche added. “Oh, my gosh, he wanted to pull me out of the saddle the rest of the workout. Gustavo brought this horse in good condition. I’m just glad I was the pilot again to get another Suburban.”

Phileas Fogg exited last year’s Suburban to cross the wire third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup here but was declared unplaced by the stewards after breaking inwardly at the start and causing Contrary Thinking to shy into the Edgard Zayas-piloted White Abarrio, who in turn bumped Mindframe, unseating Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Carmouche said he appreciated the opportunity to continue riding the talented gelding.

“Sometimes we make decisions in the race that can cost not only myself but can cost the owner. Meanwhile, they did keep me on the horse, and we made it back to where we should be,” Carmouche said.

Phileas Fogg followed in September with a pacesetting second to Locked in the Grade 2 Woodward at Belmont at the Big A, but was not his consistent self when fourth in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap in December there or in February when a distant third in the Listed Stymie. Phileas Fogg arrived from a strong optional-claiming score in May at Belmont at the Big A and proved on Saturday he could be a force to be reckoned with this summer.

Whether that includes a start in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8 here – a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland – remains to be seen.

“We don’t know yet, we will see. Right now, we are just going to enjoy the win,” Rodriguez said.

Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, Phileas Fogg improved his record to 24-11-5-1. He returned $19.82 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a nine-race card featuring the Grade 1, $150,000 Leo O’Brien steeplechase in Race 1, the Grade 3, $225,000 Kelso in Race 6 and the Listed $200,000 Harvey Pack in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live presents daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

G2 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life Quotes

Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer of winner Phileas Fogg (No. 6, $19.82): “The horse was training so good coming into this race. I told my owner that he was doing better than last year. He won, but I didn’t expect him to win the way he did.

“The way he ran today, I thought he was going to run good, but to win the race and the way he did it, I didn’t expect that.

“That was the plan: grab the lead and take it from there. And Kendrick [Carmouche] is beautiful on the lead.”

On a potential start at Saratoga in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8 offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland: “We don’t know yet, we will see. Right now, we are just going to enjoy the win.”

Kendrick Carmouche, winning jockey aboard Phileas Fogg (No. 6): “He ran real good last year. This year, after the winter, he wasn’t doing as good. We gave him a little time; I started working this horse again. This horse started eating, color started coming back. He was just a different horse. I know last time when I worked him, I let him go nice and easy. Oh, my gosh, he wanted to pull me out of the saddle the rest of the workout. Gustavo brought this horse in good condition. I’m just glad I was the pilot again to get another Suburban.

“By the time I turned on the backside, I knew the race was won. My horse was taking me. At no part during the race he was straining. I just had to wait to pull the trigger. I didn’t even do that. I just let him go a little.”

On whether this race is redemption following Phileas Fogg being disqualified from third to seventh in last year’s G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup: “Sometimes we make decisions in the race that can cost not only myself but can cost the owner. Meanwhile, they did keep me on the horse, and we made it back to where we should be.”

Manny Franco, jockey of runner-up Hit Show (No. 8): “The seven [No. 7, Antiquarian] doesn’t break and the two horse [No. 2, Forged Steel] doesn’t go onto the lead like I expect, so after that, I was right there close to the pace. I wanted to be there but the horses in front of me were rolling. I think we were second best after that. He ran hard and it was a great effort.”

John Velazquez, jockey of fourth-place beaten favorite Antiquarian (No. 7): “He stumbled at the start, nothing I can tell you. I was not supposed to be that far back. Today, it didn’t go our way.”

Winning margin: 10 lengths

Fractions: 23.92, 48.59, 1:12.57, 1:36.64

Order of finish: 6-8-5-7-2-3-4-9-10-11-1