Arcangelo wins Belmont Stakes to make Jena Antonucci 1st female trainer to win the race

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Arcangelo emerged victorious in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, securing a historic win for Jena Antonucci, who became the first female trainer to achieve this feat in the race’s 155-year history.

As Arcangelo crossed the finish line, Jena Antonucci’s emotions overwhelmed her. She leaned over, resting her arm and head on the back of a chair. When the horse returned to the winner’s circle, she affectionately kissed its nose.

Covering the 1 1/2-mile race in 2:29.23, Arcangelo finished ahead of the favored Fotre by 1 1/2 lengths, with Tapit Trice taking third place.

Jockey Javier Castello, who previously rode Mage to victory in the Kentucky Derby, attributed the win to the exceptional horse. He expressed his happiness for Jena Antonucci, acknowledging her skills as a talented woman and a remarkable horse trainer.

The triumph of Arcangelo brought a heartwarming conclusion to a Triple Crown series that had been marred by unfortunate horse deaths at Churchill Downs during the weeks surrounding the Kentucky Derby, as well as an incident involving trainer Bob Baffert on Preakness day. Additionally, the Belmont Stakes faced potential cancellation due to air quality issues caused by wildfires in Canada, adding to the challenges of the event.

Fortunately, those concerns were resolved by Friday, alleviating the uncertainties surrounding thoroughbred racing.

At 47 years old, Jena Antonucci, who began riding show horses at a young age and held various roles in racing, became a trainer in 2010, managing a modest stable. In her first 13 years, she had sent fewer than 2,000 horses to the post. All her hard work paid off in a single race.

Antonucci shared her words of wisdom, encouraging others to never give up. She emphasized the importance of creating opportunities when none are available, building a supportive team, and persisting relentlessly. Through tears, she expressed gratitude for the recognition she had received, emphasizing that hard work does not go unnoticed.

Antonucci was only the 11th woman to participate in the Belmont Stakes, following Kathy Ritvo, who raced Mucho Macho Man to a seventh-place finish in 2011. The previous highest placement by a female trainer was achieved by Dianne Carpenter’s Kingpost, who came in second to Risen Star in 1988.

Arcangelo arrived at the Belmont Stakes after a hard-fought victory in the Peter Pan Stakes. Starting from the No. 3 post position, Arcangelo remained close to the lead throughout the race. National Treasure, the winner of the Preakness Stakes, led a group of seven contenders in close proximity at the halfway mark. However, as the race progressed, Arcangelo maintained position along the rail and engaged in a head-to-head battle with National Treasure on the far turn leading to the stretch.

By the time they reached the stretch, Arcangelo surged ahead, creating a significant gap between himself and the other horses. None of the competitors managed to narrow the distance, solidifying Arcangelo’s position as the ultimate champion.

With odds of $17.80 to win, $7.20 to place, and $4.90 to show, Arcangelo earned $900,000 for Blue Rose Farm, owned by John Ebbert. Forte paid $4.30 to place and $3.30 to show, while Tapit Trice yielded $4.10 for the show.

Completing the race in fourth place was Hit Show, followed by Angel of Empire, National Treasure, Il Miracolo, Red Route One, and Tapit Shoes.

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More about female trainer Belmont Stakes

• Belmont Stakes: https://www.belmontstakes.com/
• Jena Antonucci: https://www.racing.com/trainer/2010-05-18/jena-antonucci
• Arcangelo: https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=10603195&registry=T
• Kentucky Derby: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/
• Churchill Downs: https://www.churchilldowns.com/
• Preakness Stakes: https://www.preakness.com/