The final leg of the 2023 Triple Crown belongs to Arcangelo, who captured the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday in the most competitive field of the season.
It’s a history-making victory for trainer Jena Antonucci, who becomes the first female trainer to win any leg of the Triple Crown. After winning his first Kentucky Derby with Mage earlier in May, jockey Javier Castellano also snapped an 0-14 streak Belmont Stakes.
Bob Baffert’s National Treasure set the pace for the majority of race, but seemed to being to tire around the final turn, giving Arcangelo (8-1) the opening it needed to run away with the victory.
“I don’t have words right now,” an emotional Antonucci told the Fox broadcast after the win. “We’re just soaking all this in and just so proud of the horse right now… If you can’t get a seat at the table, make your own table.”
ARCANGELO TAKES HOME THE BELMONT STAKES 😤
What. A. Race.
(via @FOXSports) pic.twitter.com/cCm4IXxbkk
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) June 10, 2023
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
Alongside Forte, who went off as the favorite at 2-1, the starting gate featured Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure (5-1) as well as Kentucky Derby contenders Angel of Empire (3-1) and Tapit Trice (5-1).
On the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s historic run at the Belmont, Arcangelo crossed the finish line in 2:29.23 — or nearly five seconds slower than Secretariat’s pace.
Secretariat’s Belmont record stands for the 50th year.
He would have beaten today’s WINNING HORSE Archangelo by 25 lengths!
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 11, 2023
All of it made for a thrilling mile-and-a-half race for the $1.5 million purse, the conclusion of which ends a dark Triple Crown season as a spate of equine fatalities overshadowed the action on the track and led to the closing of Churchill Downs for the remainder of the Spring Meet.
2023 Belmont Stakes Payouts
- Arcangelo ($17.80, $7.20, $4.90)
- Forte (N/A, $4.30, $3.30)
- Tapit Trice (N/A, N/A, $4.10)
(Based on $2 bet)
$1.00 Exacta: $34.00
$0.50 Trifecta: $66.62
$1.00 Superfecta: $292.50
Full Results Payouts
- Arcangelo: $900,000
2. Forte: $270,000
3. Tapit Trice: $150,000
4. Hit Show: $60,000
4. Angel of Empire: $60,000
6. National Treasure: $30,000
7. Il Miracolo: $15,000
8. Red Route One: $15,000
9. Tapit Shoes