Grade 1 winner Antiquarian has been retired from racing after developing a minor suspensory injury underneath his left ankle, owner Centennial Farms said in an Aug. 27 statement.
"The prognosis is excellent, but he will not be able to defend his title in the Jockey Club Gold Cup or make the Breeders' Cup Classic," the statement read. "Antiquarian owes us nothing and has been a wonderful horse for our Centennial partners and the Pletcher barn. He will return to Middleburg, Virginia, and we will be announcing a stallion deal in the near future."
Bred by the late Brereton Jones, Antiquarian was part of the first crop of Centennial's grade 1-winning millionaire Preservationist.
"Antiquarian's record and individuality speak for themselves, but campaigning an elite son of a Centennial star is a unique joy, with much of the same team and many of the same partners involved in both," the statement said. "He is the leading son of the late Preservationist, who would be among the top 20 sires in the nation by number of 2026 graded stakes winners. It has also been rewarding to watch his female family develop since he first joined our roster. He is the first foal out of Lifetime Memory and the next two are both winners, including Delaware Oaks and Virginia Oaks winner Fondly."
Consigned by Airdrie Stud at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he was purchased for $250,000 by Centennial after catching the attention of Dr. Stephen Carr and Paula Parsons. Parsons gave the young colt his early training in Middleburg, Va., before he joined the Hall of Fame barn of Todd Pletcher.
Antiquarian broke his maiden in his second start at 3 and added a victory in the 2024 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) two starts later. He would then close out his sophomore campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
At 4, Antiquarian earned his career highlight triumph in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and also placed in the Suburban Stakes (G2) and Blame Stakes (G3). He kicked off his 5-year-old campaign this year with a win in the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack and retires off a third-place finish in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
Antiquarian ended his career with a record of 5-3-1 from 14 starts for earnings of $1,320,350.
"Antiquarian's five victories came at four different tracks and despite encountering some rough trips, virtually never threw in the towel," the statement said. "The heart he displayed in the afternoons was coupled with a joy for his job that was always evident in the mornings.
"There is a truly a village behind the journey of every horse and Antiquarian is no different. Centennial is deeply grateful to everyone who has had a hand in (Antiquarian's) journey, including but very much not limited to Paula Parsons and her team in Middleburg (Juan, Alexis, Aoife), Todd Pletcher and his staff (Tristan, Sophie, Juan Jose, Christian, Eduardo, Edy, Humberto, Ernesto, Isabel, etc.), jockeys John Velazquez, Edgard Zayas, Luis Saez, and Manny Franco, therapists, farriers, Dr. Carr, the partners who never hesitated to do what's right for him, and so many more."
