Antiquarian targets Saratoga Suburban as rebound test at 1 1/4 miles

Antiquarian will return to Saratoga on July 4 for the Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban Stakes at 1 1/4 miles. The move to 1 1/4 miles will test whether Todd Pletcher’s son of Preservationist has another level to reach. He was fourth in the Metropolitan Handicap last out, but his strongest efforts have come when he can settle early, build into the race and finish with stamina late.

Saratoga’s holiday card is loaded, with the Belmont Derby, Belmont Oaks, Sanford and other stakes on the same program.

He opened his 2026 season with a 5 3/4-length win in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Aqueduct, a sharp rebound from the campaign that turned him into a name horse last fall. That included a memorable Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup upset at Saratoga on Aug. 31, 2025, when Mindframe lost his rider shortly after the start and Antiquarian capitalized to earn his first Grade 1 victory. He later ran eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, then came back this spring with the Westchester.

The Suburban will also be a rematch with a familiar target. Antiquarian was beaten a head by Phileas Fogg in last year’s Suburban, when Phileas Fogg covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.97 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 104. Antiquarian finished just 6 1/4 lengths clear of stablemate Locked that day, closing from second.

Antiquarian has 12 starts, 5 wins and 3 seconds for $1,170,350 in earnings as of June 23, 2026, according to Equibase. Foaled May 11, 2021, the Kentucky-bred is owned by Centennial Farms, trained by Pletcher and ridden most recently by John Velazquez. His bankroll has already moved close to Preservationist’s $1,084,550 career total.

Centennial Farms also has Nearly on the comeback trail, with Don Little Jr. pointing to the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes on Nov. 7 as a return target after the colt was sidelined by a hind ankle issue following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.