GI Belmont S.

Sir Winston (Awesome Again--La Gran Bailadora, by Afleet Alex), winner of the 2019 GI Belmont S., was represented by his first foal, a filly out of Pretty Clever (Hard Spun). The foal was bred by Tracy Farmer and born at his Shadowlawn Farm in Midway, Ky., Jan. 30. Pretty Clever is a half-sister to Saratoga stakes winner Can You Diggit (Tiznow). Sir Winston stands at Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm for $7,500 LFSN.

Spendthrift Farm's Mo Donegal, the classic-winning son of Uncle Mo, sired his first reported foal this week when a colt was born at WinStar Farm in Versailles, the stallion's farm said in a release Friday afternoon. Bred by Alfredo Gastaneta, the bay colt is out of the Declaration of War mare Andavete, a half-sister to 2020 GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway) and hailing from the immediate family of champion sire Saint Ballado. "This is a good size colt with good bone and leg underneath him,"...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to [email protected] 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

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) released its 2024 schedule, which includes 195 live racing days at Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course, the organization said in a release Thursday morning. As previously announced, the ongoing construction at Belmont Park will require significant adjustments to the customary schedule. In addition to the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival being held at Saratoga Race Course from June 6-9, the fall and spring/summer meets traditionally held at Belmont will take place at Aqueduct Racetrack in 2024. Following the conclusion of the 2023...

Edited Press Release Trainer Jena Antonucci sat down with the NYRA Press Office to discuss her accomplishments, MGISW Arcangelo (Arrogate) and the memorable moments that happened to her this year. NYRA: What did it mean to you personally to win the GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S.? Antonucci: "It opened the window for people to see what we've been doing. I've chuckled a little bit at the people who say, 'Oh, she's only ever had one horse.' No, we've actually had a lot, and have won stakes beforehand. Yes,...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to [email protected] "For me personally, National Treasure winning the Preakness! It was my third win in my favorite race of the year. My favorite racing moment outside of my stable was watching Jena (Antonucci) win the Belmont S. Pure joy! Loved seeing it." --Sol Kumin

Blue Rose Farm's GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate) breezed five furlongs in 1:03.25 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.13 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Friday. Regular jockey Javier Castellano was aboard for the move, which was the gray colt's final work before shipping to California on Wednesday to begin final preparations for the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. "Everything was good," trainer Jena Antonucci said. "It was what we were looking for, it was just a maintenance...

Blue Rose Farm's Arcangelo (Arrogate) posted a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.63 over the Saratoga's main track under Javier Castellano in preparation for the Aug. 26 GI Travers S. Trainer Jena Antonucci said she was pleased with the GI Belmont S. winner's work, which served as a maintenance breeze after he covered the same distance in 1:00.21 on Aug. 6. "It went super. It was everything we were looking for," Antonucci said. "The big heavy lifting was in the prior work, so we'll just keep his feet on the ground for...

Both 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify), winner of the GI Woody Stephens S. and National Treasure (Quality Road), the GI Preakness winner who faded to sixth after setting the pace in the GI Belmont S., were back at Santa Anita and doing well after competing on last Saturday's Belmont Stakes card at Belmont Park according to trainer Bob Baffert. Prospective next starts have not been named for either runner.

Jena Antonucci became the first female trainer in history to win a Triple Crown race when her trainee Arcangelo claimed the GI Belmont S. The history-making horsewoman joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss her journey to the big stage.

So, what's next? The plague of locusts? The only surprise is that the smoke filling the air at Belmont Park has drifted across the continent from Canadian forests, and didn't actually emerge from a widening fissure in the crust, crumbling daily, that appears to divide horsemen and their horses from the inferno. Hopefully a reprieve of the GI Belmont S. might yet be extended to some other elements in what has become too relentlessly apocalyptic a narrative. In terms of what has been definitively established, our sport's macabre run of...

ELMONT, NY -- With unhealthy air quality conditions continuing to impact Long Island and all of New York State due to the Canadian wildfires, live racing at Belmont Park Thursday--the first of three days of the highly anticipated Belmont Stakes Racing Festival--was canceled. Thursday's co-featured GII Wonder Again S. and Jersey Girl S. will be redrawn today and brought back for Sunday's card. As previously announced late Wednesday evening, training was canceled at both Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park for Thursday morning. "Safety is paramount as we navigate this...