June 10, 2023 
Jena Antonucci watched in awe and amazement as Arcangelo slipped through along the rail to take the 155th edition of the Belmont Stakes and with it, made her the first female trainer to ever win a Triple Crown race.
A small stable conditioner who competes mainly in south Florida, Antonnuci found herself on the big stage at Belmont Park on Saturday, saddling a colt who was also stepping up to take on top-shelf competition.
But 2:29.23 after the gates sprung open on the 1 ½-mile classic, and final jewel in the U.S. Triple Crown, both horse and rider went from relative anonymity to front-page racing news.
Arriving at the $1.5 million Belmont off a head score in the Peter Pan (G3), Arcangelo, a $35,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September sale, looked like a seven-figure standout as he powered through along the inside to get the best of multiple graded stakes winner Forte.
The 1 ½-length victory under cloudy skies left Antonucci attempting to wrap her mind around what had just transpired.
“I don’t know if I have words right now,” Antonucci said moments after the race. “I’m just so proud of the horse right now.”
She was equally proud to be an inspiration for small-time operations who have big-time aspirations.
“Never give up and if you can’t find a seat at the table, make your own table,” Antonucci said. “Build your team and never give up.”
The victory was orchestrated by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano who came into the race having never won a Belmont Stakes.
Just five weeks earlier, he had recorded his first Kentucky Derby triumph, the win coming with Mage.
On this day, he was at his savvy best, mapping out a flawless trip aboard the son of Arrogate.
It was National Treasure who went to the front and set the pace. He continued to call the shots, but on the far turn, Arcangelo and Castellano found daylight along the rail and powered through to take command.
A host of rivals came calling, but Arcangelo dug in gamely to keep Forte at bay while Tapit Trice finished a nose back of that rival. There was a dead heat for fourth between Hit Show and Angel of Empire.
“I give all the credit to the horse,” said Castellano. “This is a wonderful horse. I’m really happy for her, you know, she’s a really good woman. She’s a good horseman.”
National Treasure, Il Miracolo, Red Route One and Tapit Shoes rounded out the order of finish.
Owned by Blue Rose Farm and bred by Don Alberto Corporation, Arcangelo paid $17.80 to win, $7.20 to place and $4.90 to show.
He is now 3-1-0 from five career starts.
