Antiquarian impresses in seasonal debut with decisive G3 Westchester score
Antiquarian made his 5-year-old debut a winning one under perfect handling from Hall of Famer John Velazquez in Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Westchester, a one-turn mile for older horses, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher for Centennial Farms, Antiquarian stalked and pounced to a 5 3/4-length score over defending Westchester champ Bishops Bay, who, similar to last year here, had battled gamely on the front end with Quint’s Brew.
“It was very exciting. He was training so well in Florida this winter,” said Don Little, Jr., president of Centennial Farms. “Similar to last year – he ran seven-eighths in his first race back and was victorious there, and it was the same plan here. What’s next in the cards is up to Todd. Hopefully, he comes back in good shape. It’s a nice way to start the season.
“I actually thought he [Velazquez] might have moved a little too soon,” added Little, Jr., with a laugh. “Then, he kept coming, and I knew we had it. He looked so confident, and it was really good.”
In victory, Antiquarian [11-5-3-0, $1,110,350] surpassed the career purse earnings of his sire, Preservationist [11-6-1-2, $1,084,550], who captured the Grade 2 Suburban and Grade 1 Woodward in 2019 for trainer Jimmy Jerkens and Centennial Farms.
Bishops Bay broke alertly from the inside post under Flavien Prat, but the Forest Boyce-piloted Quint’s Brew asserted from the outermost post 4 to mark the opening quarter-mile in 24.19 seconds over the fast main track.
Antiquarian and Velazquez watched the battle from third position as Quint’s Brew was pressured to his inside by Bishops Bay through a half-mile in 47 flat as Pentathlon trailed. Velazquez gave Antiquarian his cue into the turn and the Grade 1-winner responded with a strong kick to take command approaching the quarter-pole.
Antiquarian had his head turned toward the grandstand in upper stretch but straightened out under encouragement from Velazquez and powered away to a comfortable score in a final time of 1:35.42.
“Perfect trip,” Velazquez said. “That's what I was expecting: the speed showed up in front of me. I put him behind horses and let him do his thing from the three-eighths pole home, that's the way it worked out.
"He came back real sharp this time, that's for sure,” Velaquez continued. “Hopefully, he can mature for me a lot."
Bishops Bay held place honors by a nose over the rallying Pentathlon with Quint’s Brew rounding out the order of finish. Rated by Merit was scratched.
The Brad Cox-trained Bishops Bay won this event last year as part of an 8-6-1-0 campaign that included local one-turn mile stakes scores in the Grade 3 Forty Niner and Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap. He was making his first start since a fourth-place try in the Group 1 Saudi Cup in February.
Prat, who was previously a perfect 6-for-6 aboard Bishops Bay, said his charge was game in defeat.
“He ran a good race,” Prat said. “I thought he ran well. The winner beat us by a few lengths. I thought it was still a good comeback. The first quarter was slow and then we picked it up, the whole way around."
Antiquarian enjoyed a solid 4-year-old campaign, winning a troubled edition of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in August at Saratoga where Phileas Fogg broke inward causing Mindframe to unseat jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Sierra Leone to alter course. The Velazquez-piloted Antiquarian avoided the trouble and held off the rallying Sierra Leone to score by 1 1/2-lengths and earn a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure.
His 4-year-old season, which included a pair of additional graded placings, was completed with an uncharacteristic off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.
The impressive Westchester score could see Antiquarian point to the Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 6 Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course, a "Win and You're In" event for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland.
However, the 10-furlong Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life on July 4 at Saratoga could also prove enticing after missing in that event by a head last year when second to Phileas Fogg.
Little, Jr. said he would discuss all possibilities with Pletcher and the team.
“Like a lot of the good handicap horses, the ultimate goal is Keeneland [for the Breeders’ Cup] in the fall,” Little, Jr. said.
The $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones, is out of the winning Istan mare Lifetime Memory, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Speaktomeofsummer and stakes-winner Proud Reunion. Antiquarian, winner of the 2024 Grade 3 Peter Pan here, returned $6.34 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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