Jupiter Stable's Phileas Fogg (g, 5, Astern {Aus}–Merino, by More Than Ready), runner-up in the GIII Pimlico Special S. May 16, was sent to the front from his rail draw, enjoyed a clear advantage throughout and just held off Antiquarian (Preservationist) by a head to pull off a 6-1 upset in Saturday's GII Suburban S. at Saratoga. Favored 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) was a well-beaten third.
Sent straight to the front by Kendrick Carmouche, Phileas Fogg showed the way through fractions of :23.72 and :47.83, led by three lengths at the stretch call and just had enough left in the tank to hold on in dramatic fashion for a career high.
Phileas Fogg becomes the first graded stakes winner for trainer Gustavo Rodriguez, brother of fellow trainer and former rider Rudy Rodriguez. Phileas Fogg was claimed by these connections for $62,500 off AJ Suited Racing Stable and trainer James Toner last summer at Saratoga. His resume was previously highlighted by wins in the Queens County S. Dec. 29 and Excelsior S. Apr. 5, both held at Aqueduct.
“We are very blessed to have this horse,” Rodriguez said. “Very lucky, very blessed. He is a nice horse. This is unbelievable. A beautiful feeling to win these kinds of races.”
He continued, “The last sixteenth to the wire, I was very, very worried about getting beat, and he almost did. Thank God he won for us. We were screaming like you have no idea. We are very happy and blessed.”
Pedigree Notes:
The Godolphin-bred Phileas Fogg, named after the main character in 'Around the World in 80 Days,' is one of seven graded/group winners worldwide for Astern. The unraced Merino, also responsible for a 2-year-old colt by Frosted, brought $20,000 from Ahmad Alabdullatif at the 2022 Keeneland November sale. This is the extended female family of champion sprinter and leading sire Speightstown. Phileas Fogg went through the auction ring once, bringing $55,000 as a horse of racing age at the 2023 Keeneland November sale.
Friday, Saratoga
SUBURBAN S. PRESENTED BY SUBOURBON-GII, $400,000, Saratoga, 7-4, 4yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:02.97, ft.
1–PHILEAS FOGG, 120, g, 5, by Astern (Aus)
1st Dam: Merino, by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Cableknit, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Silken Cat, by Storm Cat
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($55,000 3yo '23 KEENOV).
O-Jupiter Stable LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Gustavo Rodriguez;
J-Kendrick Carmouche. $220,000. Lifetime Record: 18-9-4-0,
$736,773. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Antiquarian, 122, c, 4, Preservationist–Lifetime Memory,
by Istan. ($250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Centennial Farms;
B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $80,000.
3–Locked, 124, c, 4, Gun Runner–Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon.
'TDN Rising Star'. ($425,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm; B-Rosa Colasanti
(KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $48,000.
Margins: HD, 6 1/4, 5. Odds: 6.20, 2.90, 0.90.
Also Ran: Bendoog, San Siro, Awesome Aaron, Honor Marie. Scratched: Disarm. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Gustavo Rodriguez earns his first graded stakes win as PHILEAS FOGG goes gate-to-wire in the Grade 2 Suburban presented by Subourbon with @KendrickCarmou1 aboard! pic.twitter.com/5VFtRvqRZy
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) July 4, 2025
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