Jena Antonucci and her 3-year-old thoroughbred took on the big boys and made history.
Antonucci became the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race when Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y., on Saturday evening.
Arcangelo slipped through along the rail to take the lead on the final turn, then held off the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Forte and Tapit Trice to capture the third leg of the Triple Crown.
Even in racing circles, Antonucci is a low-profile trainer. She had never trained a Grade 1 winner until Arcangelo’s game effort.
“He’s got the heart of a champion,” Antonucci said. “He’s just that guy. He’s just amazing, a true blessing and an amazing gift and I’m just so grateful.”
Javier Castellano, who rode Mage to an upset victory in the Kentucky Derby, did the same on the 7-1 Arcangelo. Mage was not entered in the Belmont after finishing third in the Preakness.
“It’s a dream come true, winning two Triple Crown races,” Castellano said.
Arcangelo paid $17.80 to win. The $2 exacta with Forte paid $68.00. Tapit Trice was third, while the Brad Cox-trained duo of Hit Show and Angel Empire finished in a dead heat for fourth.
Heading into his 3-year-old season, Arcangelo had not hinted he was a stakes-level horse. He lost both of his starts as a 2-year-old.
Arcangelo broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in Florida in March. Antonucci was encouraged enough to enter Arcangelo in the Peter Pan Stakes, Belmont’s prep race for the Belmont Stakes, on May 13. Arcangelo won by a head over Bishops Bay.
Arcangelo went off as the fifth choice in a field of nine on Saturday. Expertly ridden by Castellano, he snuck through an opening to pass pacesetter National Treasure, the winner of the Preakness.
Arcangelo opened up a clear lead and got tired as the wire neared in the 1 1/2-mile test. He had enough left to keep Forte and Tapit Trice at bay in a time of 2:29 1/5.
“He needed some horses to get out of his way and Javier made that happen,” Antonucci said.
Antonucci made it happen by getting her horse to peak in his fifth career start.
“I’m really happy for her,” Castellano said. “She’s a really good woman, a good horseman. She put a lot of energy and effort and time to develop the horse.”
Arcangelo is a son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate. His dam, Modeling, is a daughter of Tapit, who has sired four Belmont winners.
Despite that breeding, the horse sold for a modest $35K as a yearling, $15K less than Arrogate’s stud fee.
Antonucci has been training thoroughbreds since 2010 and suffered through a rough 2022. Her horses only won three of 72 starts.
Arcangelo has turned around the fortunes of her barn and now, she’ll be forever known as the first female to win any Triple Crown race.
“Never give up,” she said of her advice to other female trainers looking to follow her footsteps. “If you can’t find a seat on the table, make your own table. Build your team and never give up. You’re seen. People see you and just keep working your butt off.”
Antonucci’s historic victory came a half-century after Secretariat’s famed 31-length romp in the Belmont.
–Field Level Media
