Antiquarian, winner of last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, but last seen being a distant eighth in the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, kicked off 2026 with a stylish victory in the GIII Westchester Stakes Sunday at Aqueduct. The chestnut sat just off the pace as favored Bishops Bay and Quint's Brew were up front through a quarter in :24.19 and a half in :47.00. Antiquarian rolled up three wide on the far turn, stuck a head in front at the top of the lane and strode clear for an easy win.“It was very exciting,” said owner Don Little, Jr. of Centennial Farms. “He was training so well in Florida this winter. Similar to last year–he ran seven-eighths in his first race back and was victorious there, and it was the same plan here.”Winning rider John Velazquez added, “Perfect trip. 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.”Antiquarian was second in last year's GIII Blame Stakes in May at Churchill Downs and again when finishing just a head adrift of Phileas Fogg in the July 4 GII Suburban Stakes at Saratoga. While stablemate Mindframe dramatically lost jockey Irad Ortiz shortly after the start of the Aug. 31 Gold Cup, Antiquarian avoided all the trouble and drove home a 1 1/2-length winner over champion Sierra Leon (Gun Runner).Looking ahead for the veteran, Little said, “What's next in the cards is up to Todd [Pletcher]. Hopefully, he comes back in good shape. It's a nice way to start the season.”Pedigree Note:Antiquarian is one of two graded winners for his late sire Preservationist, who passed away after a bout with colic last summer in South Korea. His dam, Lifetime Memory also produced GIII Delaware Oaks winner Fondly (Upstart). She has a 2-year-old colt by Happy Saver who sold for $350,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, a yearling filly by Mage, and she was bred to Not This Time last year. The mare is a half-sister to graded winner Speaktomeofsummer (Summer Front). Last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner ANTIQUARIAN wins the Westchester Stakes (G3) under @ljlmvel for trainer @PletcherRacing and owner @Centennial_Farm. pic.twitter.com/9W97Sjjggb— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 3, 2026Sunday, Belmont Big AWESTCHESTER S.-GIII, $162,750, Belmont The Big A, 5-3, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:35.42, ft.1–ANTIQUARIAN, 124, h, 5, by Preservationist 1st Dam: Lifetime Memory, by Istan 2nd Dam: Silver Reunion, by Harlan's Holiday 3rd Dam: Silver Comic, by Silver Hawk($250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Centennial Farms; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $96,250. Lifetime Record: GISW, 11-5-3-0, $1,110,350. *1/2 to Fondly (Upstart), GSW, $389,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Bishops Bay, 124, h, 6, Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. ($450,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $1,300,000 5yo '25 KEENOV). O-KAS Stables; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $35,000.3–Pentathlon, 122, h, 5, Speightstown–Parade, by Tapit.1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Phipps Stable, St. Elias Stable and Woodford Racing LLC; B-Phipps Stable (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $21,000.Margins: 5 3/4, NO, 3HF. Odds: 2.17, 0.79, 8.07.Also Ran: Quint's Brew. Scratched: Rated by Merit.Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.The post Preservationist’s Antiquarian Back in Fine Form, Takes Westchester with Ears Pricked appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.