Watching trainer JENA ANTONUCCI jump up and down watching ARCANGELO zip up the rail on his way to an 8-to-1 upset in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 10 was just the feel-good tonic that racing needed. Antonucci, who rode in horse shows as a child, was a veterinarian’s assistant and worked for D. Wayne Lukas, was overcome with emotion as Arcangelo charged to victory. The lightly-raced three-year-old ridgling by the late champion Arrogate held sway over favoured Forte, the Florida Derby winner, and Blue Grass winner Tapit Trice to take down the bulk of the $1,500,000 purse for winning the 1 1/2 mile Test of the Champion.
Antonucci, based in Florida, was just the 11th woman to start a horse in the Belmont and is the first to have trained a Belmont winner. Owner Jon Ebbert, whose last winning racehorse was a $7,500 claimer at Parx in 2014, bought Arcangelo for $35,000 as a yearling at the 2021 Keeneland September sale.
Not originally nominated to the Triple Crown, Arcangelo had to be supplemented to the Belmont for $50,000.
“It’s the horse and I am so grateful,” said Antonucci. “I will forever be indebted to his honesty to us, his heart, and he is why you get up seven days a week. I didn’t get a lot of sleep the last few nights, I’m not going to lie. I’m so grateful.”
Antonucci, 47, was well rewarded for her patience with the late-blooming son of Arrogate, who did not make his first start until December of his two-year-old season and did not find the winner’s circle until a third-out maiden coup in March at his home base of Gulfstream Park.
Arcangelo proved more than worth the wait, notching his second graded score after claiming the local Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 13. That marked just the second career graded triumph for Antonucci, who began training in 2010. Her third came one month later in the Belmont.
“When we were walking out, I said there is not a table made for you. You make the table,” Antonucci said of what her accomplishment means to all women in the sport. “You put great people around you, you work hard. Work your tail off. It will come if you do it the right way. Do it the right way.”
Ebbert, owner of Blue Rose Farm, was left in awe as he earned his first Grade 1 win of his career and said he always had faith in the grey ridgling.
“It’s amazing. What an amazing ride,” said Ebbert. “I’m so proud of the horse. He’s an amazing horse. He’s all heart. We knew he had it in him. Javier rode him perfectly and Jena is an amazing trainer. I’m so lucky to find her. The rest is history.”
Ebbert picked out Arcangelo at the 2021 Keeneland September sale and paid just $35,000 for the youngster, who is listed as a ridgling.
Arcangelo earned a 102 Beyer Figure for the Belmont victory.
Belmont in His Blood: Arcangelo’s dam MODELING never raced, but at the age of two she was sold for $2.85 million in foal to Distorted Humor to Don Alberto Corporation by Hill n’ Dale Sales Agency. That was in 2014 at the Keeneland November sale and the resulting foal was Montmatre, a winner for the Don Alberto Corporation. The mare then produced Blasted Notion, a $200,000 sales yearling who did not race and Media Mogul, a 2019 yearling who brought $120,000.
Second dam TEEMING (Storm Cat), bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale, raced at Woodbine with trainer Josie Carroll, winning two of three races including a maiden dash by more than 11 lengths with an 87 Beyer Figure. She won her only race in California before she was retired. As a broodmare, Teeming produced Woodbine stakes winners Cascading for Hill ‘n’ Dale and Edward McGhee and trainer Carroll; and Treasuring, also trained by Carroll.
Third dam, BETTER THAN HONOUR, was Broodmare of the Year in 2007 and produced two Belmont Stakes winners, RAGS TO RICHES and JAZIL. The daughter of Deputy Minister is the most expensive broodmare sold at auction as she brought $14,000,000 in 2008 at the Keeneland November sale. Southern Equine was the buyer.
Arcangelo’s fourth dam is BLUSH WITH PRIDE, winner of the 1979 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
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