Antonucci maintains stability amid whirlwind of Belmont win

In one sense, everything changed for Jena Antonucci when Arcangelo captured the 155th Belmont Stakes and made her the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race. In another sense, nothing changed.

As the horse who elevated her as a role model prepares for Saturday’s Travers at Saratoga, Antonucci reflected on what her schedule has been like since the life-changing Belmont. She chose one word.

“Busy.” And then she elaborated.

“Yeah, it’s just been busier,” she said. “Nothing has changed as far as him (Arcangelo) and how we manage him in his bubble. As far as my world, it’s just been a little more busy in trying to represent the industry in the best possible way and tell the amazing story of our horses and humans and how much the industry has to offer and a lot of the good stuff that can happen with it. I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to share those stories.”

At the same time, part of her was blindsided by the whirlwind that followed her colt’s historic breakthrough. She recalls asking business partner Katie Miranda, “Why is it such a deal?”

While Antonucci understands and appreciates the history she made, she is accustomed to being around successful women. “Growing up in the show world, all of my trainers were always female,” she said. “My entire childhood I watched very strong, competent women run a business, teach people how to ride, ride and train horses and do all of the parts. So it was never a stretch or ‘Oh, this is so taboo.’ It was always a very normal, natural fit.”

Antonucci and Miranda operate horseOlogy, an all-encompassing Thoroughbred care program based at GoldMark Farm in Ocala, Fla. Antonucci’s racing stable stands apart from horseOlogy. Miranda explained that, whatever they do, they are determined to do it well.

“We have full expectations of being successful. It’s just at what level that is,” Miranda said. “Not to be cocky, but we know we do a good job. We know we do right by our horses and so eventually something like this is going to happen. And, of course, it was on a huge stage.”

Success on that grand stage has been a boon. “There have been definitely new people reaching out,” said Miranda, adding, “That’s what this industry needs, new, fresh interest and faces. We’re very happy to have those conversations with people. And I think that’s where our focus is, bringing good people into the industry.”

As for the training element, Antonucci is not interested in dramatically expanding that, even if the opportunity is there. “We’re always going to keep it at a modest number. Racing-wise, we’ll probably never have more than 30 at the track, whether they’re split or all in one location,” she said. “It’s quality over quantity for us. We like having relationships with each individual horse.”

Since the Belmont, time management, balancing business with personal life, has become particularly challenging. “It’s an amazing adventure and feat to happen, but the next day you still get up at the crack of dawn and get to the barn and check every horse’s legs,” Miranda said. “You just kind of keep chugging along. You can’t get caught up too much in living in the clouds.”

Needs of horses are incessant. There is little time to celebrate, no matter the magnitude of the accomplishment. To those who wish to follow her lead, Antonucci emphasizes the importance of the business aspect.

“Being a trainer in this business isn’t just training a horse to go in a circle,” she said. “It’s running a business, understanding what that means from payrolls to payables and receivables, insurance, all of the stuff that goes with running a business.

“Quite frankly, there are a lot of people who don’t have the desire to deal with all of those parts, and they are happy to be in a different role that doesn’t put them as the trainer and at the head of the table. And so that has been my advice to those asking that question. Understand that being a trainer in the Thoroughbred industry means that you are a business owner and a business operator. It’s not very sexy, but it’s the honest answer.”