Jena Antonucci

Horse racing has a PR problem. Tina Bond has a possible solution. "It's to create a new narrative and to help elevate the sport," said Bond, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and the mastermind behind The Heart of Horse Racing, a new campaign--one undergoing something of a soft launch--to cultivate new followers to the game by sharing the stories of those already in it. In the campaign's own words, "our mission is to win over the hearts and minds of a new generation of fans while...

1st-BAQ, 90K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 12:35 p.m. A pair of debuting colts both by Tapit will break side by side to open the card at Belmont's Aqueduct meeting Saturday. AU CONTRAIRE is a Stonestreet-bred son of MGISW Dream Rush (Wild Rush) who sold to Halsey Minor for $3.3m at FTKNOV in 2007. Her progeny include MGSW Dream Pauline (Tapit), SW and sire Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro) while her daughter, GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), has already produced a dual champion in Malathaat (Curlin) along with GSW Julia Shining (Curlin)....

Although she made history last year with a horse named Arcangelo (Arrogate), trainer Jena Antonucci hardly ever watches replays of the 2023 GI Belmont Stakes or GI Travers Stakes. She'll tell you why. She has a love for the horses, a love for competition, and, oh, she was good enough to seriously consider a career as a professional golfer. Here it is, the TDN's Saratoga Conversation. TDN: You were the master of ceremonies at the annual trivia contest at the Racing Museum last month. Asked all the questions. One of...

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano and Classic-winning trainer Jena Antonucci will be signing posters of 2023 Eclipse Award winner Arcangelo (Arrogate) at Saratoga Race Course Saturday at 11 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Renowned artist Greg Montgomery has produced exclusive limited-edition poster prints featuring Arcangelo, Castellano, and Antonucci for the Museum. Each autographed poster is $20. Any additional items fans would like signed will also be $20 per autograph. The Museum's open-air satellite facility is located behind the racetrack's grandstand just...

The Horse Racing Women's Summit (HRWS) hosted their second event of the year with panels and networking opportunities taking place at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on Tuesday, July 23 in Saratoga Springs, New York, the organization said in a Wednesday release. "To be clear, this is not an event where women get together to discuss female challenges," said Shona Rotondo, Chair of the HRWS Marketing & Communications Committee. "It's an event that brings together intelligent and successful industry professionals to discuss the challenges of our...

Tickets are now on sale as the Horse Racing Women's Summit returns to Saratoga Springs, New York, for an educational networking event to be held Tuesday, July 23 at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the volunteer organization said in release on Friday. The proceedings include a keynote conversation with Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), hosted by NBC Sports's Donna Barton Brothers. Following the keynote, two panels focused on horse safety and aftercare are scheduled. Finally, Jane Lyon, owner of Summer...

In a race that changed with the early-morning scratch of 'TDN Rising Star' Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo), it was Whatintheliteral for trainer Jena Antonucci who was able to take the field gate to wire and break her maiden at odds of 13-1 in the Astoria S. Thursday. Run twice at Keeneland over 4 1/2 furlongs, the daughter of Lord Nelson ran into both The Queens M G (Thousand Words) and West Memorial (Caracaro) in her debut start Apr. 7. Up for third beaten just three-quarters of a length Apr....

A total of 15 juveniles shared the bullet :9 4/5 furlong work time during the second session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Thursday in Central Florida. Three of the bullet workers came from the Wavertree Stables consignment: a filly by Nyquist (hip 304) out of High Heeled Girl (Malibu Moon); a filly by American Freedom (hip 400) out of Limitless (Discreet Cat); and a colt by Shancelot (hip 421) out of Magnolias in Bloom (Flatter). Wavertree also had a McKinzie...

Arcangelo (Arrogate--Modeling, by Tapit) and Up to the Mark (Not This Time--Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper), both Eclipse champions of 2023 now standing their first season at stud at Lane's End, have had their first mares scanned in foal. Diamondcoat (Gemologist) has been pronounced in foal to 2023 champion 3-year-old Arcangelo. The 9-year-old mare, owned by Allied Racing Stable, is a half-sister to multiple Grade I-placed Absinthe Minded (Quiet American), the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath (Arrogate). Campaigned by Jon Ebbert's Blue Rose Farm and trained by Jena...

Owner Jon Ebbert was adamant that Arcangelo (Arrogate) was not for sale after the 3-year-old put in a hard-fought victory in the GIII Peter Pan S. The story didn't waver as the striking gray reeled off wins in the GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. and it still didn't change when Ebbert was selecting a stallion farm for the star of his Blue Rose Farm. At Lane's End, Ebbert found a team that was experienced with and even enthusiastic about his desire to be involved in the next chapter...

The remaining days in 2023 dwindled to a few last week, a welcome development considering the year that it was. Yes, there was some good news. Arcangelo (Arrogate) winning the GI Belmont S. for trainer Jena Antonucci was as good a story as we've seen in some time. The saga of Cody's Wish (Curlin) continued to tug at our heartstrings. The sales continue to post huge numbers. Purses have soared in Kentucky and at Oaklawn, with maidens running for pots in excess of $100,000. But for every good story there...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com My favorite '23 moment was watching Jena Antonucci and her team, 'vigorously' rooting home Arcangelo in the Belmont and then becoming the 'spokesperson extraordinaire' on behalf of our industry! --Headley Bell, Mill Ridge Farm