Antonucci has Arcangelo prepped for Classic run
Jena Antonucci remembers June
10 very well. She'll forever remember her feelings as she watched Arcangelo draw away in the stretch to win the Belmont Stakes.
“Holy crap, we're going to win this thing,” the 48-year-old trainer told me in an exclusive interview with the Southern California News Group while recalling her emotions when she became the first female trainer to saddle a Triple Crown race winner.
Antonucci enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to try for more glory in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga 11 weeks later. When Arcangelo found his way to the winner's circle again, it made Antonucci only the second female trainer to win the Travers, joining Mary Hirsch in 1938 with Thanksgiving.
She'll earn another second on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita if Arcangelo can make it five consecutive victories with a win in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Only one woman has ever saddled the winner of North America's richest thoroughbred race, Kathy Ritvo in 2013 with Mucho Macho Man.
“It's definitely difficult at times to wrap your head around that,” Antonucci said. “We're still in the middle of it all, just trying to stay focused on the task at hand and probably haven't taken the proper breathing room to lean into all that and what it means. But appreciative of how it's happened.”
A modest $35,000 yearling purchase, Arcangelo has been brilliantly handled by Antonucci, who took out her trainer's license about 11 years ago.
She's spaced out his races perfectly and allowed him to grow into his frame. He's a huge 17.2 hands high but weighs only 1,100 pounds. He's all legs.
“We never wanted to rush this horse,” Antonucci said. “We honestly had Breeders' Cup 2024 in mind for him. He started getting himself together, but he was a May foal so we were taking our time with the colt.
“Watching him break his maiden (March 18 at Gulfstream Park) was definitely pretty compelling for us. It was more how he did it. He drew off by about 21/2 lengths. Just watching him get it in gear and figuring out what it takes to win. It showed that the pieces were coming together.”
Since Arcangelo's maiden victory, Antonucci has seen the colt sired by Arrogate put it all together and become more mature. He arrived at Santa Anita last week and all systems appear to say go as the Classic approaches.
“He's just become very professional when he's on the track,” she said. “He does his job, really focused. But he also has his space and his time to be a big kid, show his personality and all that, but he's definitely grown up and understands what's going on.”
Arcangelo figures to be a slam-dunk decision for Horse of the Year if he wins the Classic, but Antonucci begged off when asked if she's taken time to consider an Eclipse Award for the horse.
“I have famously said that's above my pay grade,” she said. “I just do my job and whatever comes with that and this horse's accomplishments I'll be very grateful for.”
Told that her horse is a virtual cinch to be crowned Horse of the
Year if he wins the Classic, Antonucci offered this: “From your lips to God's ears.”
Javier Castellano has been aboard Arcangelo for his past four races. Antonucci likes the way the pair get along.
“I just think it's a really great fit,” she said. “Not just because they win together but he's the right kind of rider for this horse. Javier is a journeyman who's patient and quiet and confident. This horse really thrives off of having that.”
Antonucci said there was never any thought to give Arcangelo a prep race between the Travers and Classic. He's run well fresh.
“We've pretty much spaced every race in his career out,” she said. “We've always given him a lot of space in between to let him mature and grow and do all the things a young horse does.”
Asked to compare the Belmont victory with the success enjoyed in the Travers, Antonucci leaned toward the third leg of the Triple Crown.
“They were different,” she said. “I think because the Belmont being a Triple Crown race and you had a whole different kind of audience and just being the first female to accomplish a Triple Crown victory, what that meant to some of the other people it was just different.
“The Travers was probably a little more validating for the horse. He showed that he is what we said he is and having to go out there and prove it was pretty spectacular.”
It's also been a spectacular year for Arcangelo and his handlers. It can become even more special if he wins the Classic.