Jena M. Antonucci

Jena Antonucci became known as the first female trainer to win the Belmont Stakes when she was victorious in the 155th running of the race in 2023 with Arcangelo. In so doing, she also became the first female trainer even to win a Triple Crown race.

On her website, Antonucci is described as having a passion and instinct for training with a career is entirely focused on developing racehorses thanks to a unique set of horsemanship skills.

Antonucci grew up riding horses as she climbed aboard for the first time at age 3, She got her start in Thoroughbred racing working at breaking and training horses under trainer legendary Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Padua Stables, and then studied as a veterinary assistant for four years. Breaking refers to the process of training a young horse to wear a bridle and saddle, carry a rider, and respond to a rider’s commands. Antonucci later took out her trainer's license in 2010 and earned her first win as a trainer in March 2010 at Tampa Bay Downs. Her first graded victory came with Doctor J Dub in the 2016 Turf Monster Stakes at Parx Racing. 

Antonucci burst onto the national Thoroughbred racing scene in 2023 when Arcangelo won the Peter Pan Stakes on the path to the Belmont Stakes. The victory for Arcangelo was a precursor of bigger things to come. In his next start for Antonucci, Arcangelo went on to win the third jewel of the 2023 Triple Crown with a win in the Belmont Stakes. Antonucci not only became the first female trainer to win the Belmont Stakes in the 155 runnings of the race, but she also became the first female trainer in history to win a Triple Crown race (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes).

Eleven weeks after her Belmont Stakes win with Arcangelo, her star pupil returned in the Travers Stakes Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course and soundly defeated a field that included Kentucky Derby winner Mage, Preakness Stakes victor National Treasure, and 2022 champion 2-year-old male Forte. Antonucci became the first woman to train a Travers winner since Mary Hirsch won with Thanksgiving in 1938 with Arcangelo's victory in the $1.25 million "Mid-Summer Derby."