A unique Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Saratoga kicked off with the post position draw at Universal Preservation Hall in downtown Saratoga Springs! Antiquaria, who enters the race off of a victory in the G3 Peter Pan, drew post five in a competitive ten-horse field. He retains the services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has been aboard “Baby P” in all four of his career starts. The morning line odds on the duo have been set at 12-1. A full story is available via NYRA here and complete quotes from the event can be found here.
W-O-W! Antiquarian bounced back from a rough trip to the Fair Grounds for the Louisiana Derby with a huge effort in his New York debut. The exciting sophomore was bumped at the start, hung wide, and kept on running to pull clear to an impressive victory in the G3 Peter Pan Stakes. The win stamped him as a legitimate contender for the G1 Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
We are endlessly proud of him (and his dad, Preservationist) and grateful to everyone who made it possible – our phenomenal, unparalleled partners, our team, including Dr. Carr and Paula Parsons and her staff in Middleburg, Todd Pletcher and his crew, the great John Velazquez, and, of course, Baby P himself.
Six years to the day after Preservationist beat winners for the first time, Antiquarian picked up his first career victory! It’s always special to have an exciting horse in the barn, but a little extra sweet when they’re sired by a former stable star. “Baby P,” from the first crop of “Big P,” shipped to the Fair Grounds for his second career start, faced a tough field on a challenging surface, and delivered an impressive victory. Paula Parsons and her staff in Middleburg did a terrific job getting him ready for Todd Pletcher and his team, who did an outstanding job preparing him for the race. Hall of Famer John Velazquez gave him a masterful ride in their second outing together. Moments like this are only possible because of our fantastic partners – we absolutely adore them and are thrilled to have them involved with a colt like this!
