Phileas Fogg repeats in Suburban romp; Booked takes no prisoners in Sanford

Along with a pair of Grade 1 turf events, Saratoga offered the $500,000 Suburban (G2) and $225,000 Sanford (G3) over the main track on Saturday’s Independence Day program, and both races featured dazzling performances.

Suburban (G2)

Jupiter Stable’s Phileas Fogg made all the running for the second consecutive year in the 1 1/4-mile Suburban, but Saturday’s dynamic performance bore little resemblance to his diminishing head win 12 months ago.

Facing what appeared to be a deep and competitive group of rivals, Phileas Fogg showed the way on a short lead before starting to increase his advantage on the far turn, and the six-year-old gelding drew off spectacularly through the stretch, reaching the finish 10 lengths clear. Kendrick Carmouche was up for Gustavo Rodriguez on the Saratoga dirt (3-for-4) and 1 1/4-mile (3-for-4) specialist.

“The horse was training so good coming into this race," Rodriguez said. "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."

Off as the 8-1 fifth choice, Phileas Fogg benefitted from surprising tactics by Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) winner Forged Steel, who showed high speed from the gate winning his last two outings but was taken back during the opening stages by Flavien Prat, allowing Phileas Fogg to dictate the tempo unopposed. Phileas Fogg led by about a length through opening fractions in :23.93, :48.59, and 1:12.57.

Carmouche gave his mount the cue nearing the completion of the far turn and Phileas Fogg powered into the stretch with a widening advantage, leading by seven lengths with a furlong remaining. And he kept drawing away late while nearly half the field battled desperately for second through deep stretch, finishing up in 2:01.70.

“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.”

Hit Show got up for second at 6-1, a length better than late-running Tiztastic, who edged 3-2 favorite Antiquarian by a neck for third. Forged Steel came next in fifth and Yo Daddy, Parchment Party, Stars and Stripes, Original Sin, Obstacle, and Classicist completed the order.  

Now a four-time stakes winner, taking the 2024 Queens County S. and 2025 Excelsior S. at Aqueduct, Phileas Fogg pushed his earnings past $1 million ($1,170,373) and his career ledger reads 24-11-5-1. He was last seen winning an allowance at Aqueduct in early May, his first start since opening this season with a well-beaten third in the Stymie S. in late February. Phileas Fogg also finished a close second in the 2025 Woodward (G2) two starts after his narrow win in the Suburban.

A Kentucky-bred son of Astern, Phileas Fogg is the lone stakes winner from the Unbridled’s Song mare Merino and hails from the family of sprint champion Speightstown, classic winner Early Voting, and Canadian champion Silken Cat. He was initially campaigned by breeder Godolphin, who sold him at auction for $55,000 at end of his three-year-old season. Phileas Fogg was claimed by his current connections for $62,500 in July 2024, and he’s blossomed as an older horse.

The Whitney (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 8 is an option for Phileas Fogg.

"We don't know yet, we will see," Rodriguez said when asked about future plans. "Right now, we are just going to enjoy the win."

Sanford (G3)

A smart maiden scorer the second time out in early June, Booked flashed forward at the break and dominated the Sanford, rolling to a six-length decision in the six-furlong test for two-year-olds. Ricardo Santana Jr. was up on the Steve Asmussen-trained son of Yaupon, and Booked stopped the teletimer in 1:11.24.

“Horse has got nice talent,” Asmussen said. “Ricardo did a great job with him away from there, from the inside. His first jump isn't great, but it looked like he was traveling very easily in the middle. I think he’s a big colt with a lot of size, that he'll start finishing his races off a little better. He has a lot of talent."

Booked is campaigned by Jackpot Farm, Alvin Fults, Jason Itkin, and Michael D. Smith, and the promising speedster cost $325,000 as a yearling at the 2025 Keeneland September sale. The dark bay colt missed the break when making his career debut at Churchill Downs in late April, rallying for runner-up honors, and Booked graduated in pace-tracking style during the Belmont at Saratoga meet on June 7.

Booked was bet down to 1.37-1 favoritism in the Sanford.

“He was much the best today,” Santana said. “The only thing we worried about was the break from (post 1). He’s a big colt. Today he broke (well) and he was much the best.”

Booked never switched from his inside lead in the stretch. 

“He’s a two-year-old, third time out,” Santana said. “You can tell he was looking at the crowd, the TVs. I did not want to be too rough with him (trying to get him to switch). Today, he was much the best.”

Vissino, the 9-2 third choice following a debut win at Churchill, rallied to be a non-threatening but clear second, 10 1/2 lengths ahead of Goodbye to Romance in third. Rasasi came next and was followed by Regent’s Park and Pocket Listing.

Out of the Competitive Edge mare Fingerprint, Booked counts multiple stakes-placed Zadorsky as a half-sibling and this is the extended family of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver.

Asmussen plans to run Booked back in the Saratoga Special (G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 1.

“He's got a very quiet demeanor, he doesn't do much in the morning, and I think he'll need races," the Hall of Fame trainer said.