On the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s record-setting Triple Crown victory, Belmont Park was home to another historic moment on Saturday for the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes.
As Arcangelo (8-1) stretched across the finish line for the win, Jena Antonucci became the first female trainer to earn a victory in any leg of the Triple Crown.
The moment immediately overcame Antonucci. She turned away from the track, doubled over into her seat and tried to comprehend the glass ceiling she just shattered.
It might take some time for that to really sink in.
HISTORY!
Arcangelo's Trainer, Jena Antonucci, is the first female trainer to win a #BelmontStakes! pic.twitter.com/T7Md6wiXsQ
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 10, 2023
“Never give up and if you can’t find a seat at the table, make your own table,” Antonucci told Fox’s Tom Rinaldi. “Build your team and never give up. You are seen. People see you. Just keep working your butt off.”
MORE BELMONT STAKES
Jockey Javier Castellano navigated Arcangelo through the most competitive field in any of the Triple Crown races this season, ultimately pushing past Bob Baffert’s Preakness Stakes winner in National Treasure (5-1) to take a lead down the stretch that couldn’t be caught.
It was thrilling and inspiring end to what has mostly been a depressing Triple Crown season for the sport. Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, was forced to close its doors and relocate the remainder of its Spring Meet following the deaths of 12 horses over five weeks. Shortly before Baffert won the Preakness with National Treasure, another one of his horses had to be euthanized on the track at Pimlico.
In Antonucci’s win, horse racing’s biggest stage has finally entered a much-needed new era.
Grab Your FanDuel Promo Code Offer Now
