Trainer Jena Antonucci makes history as Arcangelo wins 155th Belmont Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. — It's only fitting that history was made a half-century after Secretariat’s record-setting Belmont Stakes performance secured the Triple Crown. Because mixed in with the roar of the Belmont Park crowd early Saturday evening was the sound of horse racing's glass ceiling shattering.

When Arcangelo slipped through on the rail and overtook pacesetting Preakness winner National Treasure to hit the wire first, trainer Jena Antonucci became the first female ever to win the Belmont Stakes, and the first to win a Triple Crown race.

She's only the 11th woman to saddle a Belmont runner in the 155-year history of the race.

Arcangelo, who won the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont Park last month to earn a spot in the field, finished 1½ lengths clear of Forte, the favorite, with Tapit Trice closing to get third.

“Never give up. And if you can’t find a seat at the table, make your own table,” Antonucci said after her journey. “Build your team and never give up."

The 47-year-old Antonucci pulled off the upset even though she has only been training thoroughbreds for 13 years.

"You go through growing and career and you take it on the chin and you fight for that spot and you feel like you have to prove your worth," she said. "And horses don’t care who you are. They know who you are. And having a horse believe in you and your team the way that this horse does …”

Sent off at 8-1, Arcangelo paid $17.80 to win on a $2 bet, $7.20 to place and $4.90 to show. Forte paid $4.30 and $3.30, while Tapit Trice paid $4.10.

The lightly-raced son of Arrogate didn’t break his maiden until March 18 at Gulfstream Park in his third career start, before his game victory in the Peter Pan on May 13.

“I just believed in my horse, and the horse gives us that confidence,” said Jon Ebbert of Blue Rose Farm, which owns Arcangelo. “It’s a great team. We’re just the best together."

“A lot of stars have aligned, and this crazy guy gave the girls a chance, so a lot of credit to (Ebbert)," Antonucci said.

“I have an immense amount of gratitude for Jon. He’s a young guy and a young owner and he’s a patient owner and there is a lot to be learned from his example of letting a horse develop."

As the race unfolded, Arcangelo sat off the pace in sixth place early on. But jockey Javier Castellano began to move Arcangelo as they moved around the sweeping turn, before ducking into an opening on the rail as they turned for home, challenging National Treasure. While National Treasure tried to hold on, Arcangelo began to pull away in the final furlong.

"I want to thank you everyone for the opportunity. A dream come true. My first Belmont Stakes win," Castellano said.

The victory denied what would have been a second-straight win in Triple Crown races for trainer Bob Baffert, who returned to the Triple Crown series after a two-year ban after Medina Spirit tested positive after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby. National Treasure eventually finished sixth in the field of nine.

"I'm so happy for (Antonucci)," Baffert said. "Johnny (Velazquez) said he could never turn (National Treasure) off today. He was really tense. He never got a chance to relax. But he ran hard. He gave us a little bit of a thrill turning for home."

Forte's late charge to grab second culminates what has been a chaotic five weeks for the 2022 Juvenile champion, scratched the morning of the Kentucky Derby as the pre-race favorite due to bruised foot. The injury landed him on the Veterinarian's List, which made him ineligible for the Preakness.

"I knew we were asking a lot coming off a 10-week layoff," Forte trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He got shuffled back a little bit and once he got him outside in the clear, he was still making impact at the end but he just ran out of time getting there."

Second choice in the wagering was Angel of Empire, one of three Brad Cox trainees in the field. But Angle of Empire was never able to challenge the leaders in the stretch, finishing in a dead head for fourth place with stablemate Hit Show.

There was a different winner in all three Triple Crown races this year, with Kentucky Derby winner Mage, who finished third in the Preakness, skipping the Belmont.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Belmont Stakes: Arcangelo wins, trainer Jena Antonucci makes history