Antiquarian withstood the late run of Sierra Leone to win the $1 million Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course in a race that saw jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. knocked off his mount on prominent contender Mindframe just after the start in an incident that also impacted the chances of favorite Sierra Leone.

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The complexion of the Jockey Club Gold Cup changed in the opening strides as Phileas Fogg moved inward at the urging of jockey Kendrick Carmouche and caused a chain reaction of bumps that resulted in Irad Ortiz Jr. being unseated from Mindframe, the field's second choice.

Sierra Leone and Highland Falls, who were the 1-2 finishers of Saratoga's Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 2, found themselves further behind than usual due to the incident at the start. Sierra Leone steadied to avoid the fallen jockey and trailed behind the field early. Sierra Leone rallied to finish second. Highland Falls ran on for fourth and was placed third when Phileas Fogg was disqualified from third and placed last. White Abarrio was placed fourth.

Jockey John Velazquez piloted Antiquarian for the 4-year-old's first Grade 1 win. Just a few hours earlier, Velazquez had returned from the opposite coast after winning the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar with Fierceness the day before.

Antiquarian won the Jockey Club Gold Cup by 1 1/2 lengths from Sierra Leone in a final time for the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.16. Antiquarian paid $28.00 to win. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher trained both Antiquarian and Mindframe.

"I have mixed emotions. You hate to see anything like that happen," said Pletcher, who added that Mindframe appeared fine when he was caught by the outriders. "It was nice to have Antiquarian get his due."

John Velezquez aboard Antiquarian. (Eclipse Sportswire)

With the victory, Antiquarian earned a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In' automatic fees-paid berth to the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 1.

Mindframe was corralled by outriders in the stretch. As for the scary incident at the start, Ortiz was taken to Albany Medical Center complaining of wrist and rib pain.

"My concern was for Irad," Mindframe's part owner Mike Repole said. "I couldn't even watch the race."

In addition to Mindframe, the chances of Sierra Leone were also impacted by the trouble after the start.

"I hope Irad is OK. That's my main concern. Our horse is the one that went over the top of him and my concern is for him," said Sierra Leone's trainer Chad Brown. "As far as the race goes, we lost a considerable amount of ground. (Jockey Flavien Prat) had to use him to try and re-gain where he should have been and it certainly played a role in the finish. That's horse racing and it's just unfortunate on a big day, both for my horse, for Mindframe, who was poised for a big effort, and most importantly for Irad, who we just hope can escape from this without any injuries."