jena ANTONUCCI and ARCANGELO: MAKING Her - STORY AT BELMONT

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI

The homepage of Trainer Jena Antonucci’s Website reads in bold, straightforward lettering – and centered:

JENA ANTONUCCI

Female Thoroughbred Trainer

The font chosen is block, straight up-and-down. No italics, no flowery font. Right out-of-the-gate, this bold declaration stands, hands-on-hips, in the center of the page.

Jena Antonucci IS a Female, and she IS a Trainer of Thoroughbreds. (There are several talented women who train Thoroughbreds in the U.S., but not nearly as many as those who train Arabians or other breeds.)

Antonucci’s gutsy proclamation should not be misunderstood as being confrontational; it’s merely a confirmation, of her confidence in herself and her God-given talents.

(A horse Trainer who lacks confidence won’t win many races. Worse-yet, horses or jockeys can be injured because the Trainer fails to give clear, definite direction.)

Antonucci’s statement gives insight into the mind and workings of the Trainer who threw American Thoroughbred racing on its ear on June 10th, 2023 at Belmont. She wasn’t expected to win. She was a novelty. She was, OMG, a woman. (For some reason, American women are not encouraged to train Thoroughbreds. And most of the few who are encouraged, by-and-large, are mentored by males.)

The Building Of A Winning Trainer

Jena grew up riding horses from age three, then began competing and training show horses throughout her childhood – into her teens, thence, early adulthood. Her quest, to better understand horses from the soul, out, and the training process inspired her to flip her script: she seized an opportunity presented to her at one of the best Thoroughbred breaking and training centers. This new adventure took her to her new home, Ocala, Florida.

There’s no doubt that Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is one of the most accomplished Trainers in the history of Thoroughbred racing. He’s won multiple Eclipse Awards, and is also enshrined in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

Lukas has has forgotten more about horses than most people will ever know.

Jena became a protégé of Lukas’ program at Padua Stables, she worked breaking and training Thoroughbreds. She states that the knowledge she gained there allowed her training skillset to evolve further. Following her time with Lukas, she worked for four-and-a-half years as an equine veterinary assistant. (This experience, alone, sets her apart from most Trainers: how many others can claim to have such medical insights?) She opened her own business, Bella Inizio Farm, where initially she cared for broodmares, foals, weanlings and yearlings. Bella Inizio gave her the place and tools to shift gears, and move the farm into a place of healing, of rehabilitation for Thoroughbreds, then return them, healthy and strong, to their racing careers.

HORSEOLOGY: WOMEN, HOLDING THE REINS

This passion for horses led her to create HorseOlogy, a minority- and women-owned, full-cycle Thoroughbred training and ownership organization. Founded, owned, and operated by Katie Miranda and Jena Antonucci, horseOlogy is passionate about everything Ology for horses.

Ocala, Florida is the home of horseOlogy conducts all facets of Thoroughbred raising, training and racing. The umbrella organization advises on bloodstock, micro-investing, pinhooking and and more. The Team is serious about horse business, but wants also to soften the stoicism of business. With humor and grace, they strive to bring good-natured camaraderie back into the sport of horseracing, to make it relatable to the next generation of enthusiasts – while respecting the long-steeped traditions.

ONE-ON-ONE

This Writer had the privilege of video interviewing Antonucci for TalkoftheTrack.com during her second Summer at Saratoga. She was lively, engaging, sweet and eager to talk about her relationship with horses:

“You know, my biggest goal is to get them out of their skin, to trust us…I feel that that’s the gift that I was given, how I connect with the horse, and communicate with them…”

As she wrote on her website, “The answer is already within every horse; it’s up to us to listen.”

This Interviewer enthusiastically concluded the video piece thus: “Jena Antonucci is a wonderful Trainer; she has wonderful horses who trust her – and that’s how races are won. Mark my words: she will be inducted into the Hall of Fame one day.”

Anyone who knows anything about horses knows that, if a horse trusts you – that horse will do anything for you. Arcangelo trusts his Trainer; he knows that he’s not just a client, he’s part of her family. He ran his heart out for her at Belmont, and that trust paid off in spades – and, that day, in carnations. Her HERstory-making Belmont put her into history tomes, never to be bested by anyone. Eventually, another woman will win a Triple Crown race – but Jena Antonucci’s name will be etched in the books – and in the hearts of starry-eyed little girls – forever.

110 Ave of the Pines

518-587-1935 saratogaautomuseum.org