In the rich mosaic of thoroughbred legends, we’ve recently added a spectacular thread with the arrival of Arcangelo, a captivating steely-gray mystery hailing from the illustrious bloodlines (second crop) of Arrogate, the 2016 colossus of the Travers Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, hailed as the Longines World’s Best Racehorse. Born amidst the verdant bluegrass of Kentucky, courtesy of Don Alberto, the renowned breeding and racing titan, Arcangelo is a gem crafted by the visionary Chilean pair (mother and son) Liliana Solari and Carlos Heller Solari. Their unwavering commitment to the sport has been spectacularly manifested in Arcangelo, celebrating their first Grade I triumph on American turf with a steed bearing their standard.
Initially underestimated, written off as an “ugly duckling” at the sales ring, fetching a mere $35,000, blossomed into a magnificent swan, a spectacle of equine excellence. His transformation was nothing short of a fairy tale. At the ripe age of three, he unveiled his true prowess, dominating the field with his triumphant gallops in the two G1 stakes, the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, earning the title of the best sophomore male in the United States.
The Belmont Stakes victory was a landmark moment, not just for Arcangelo but also for his connections. It was a celebration of firsts—marking the first Grade I victory in the United States with a U.S.-bred horse for the Solari family and a historic win for Jena Antonucci, the astute trainer who became the first woman to clinch a Triple Crown race, placing her name amongst the elite few women to touch the prestigious Triple Crown’s final gem. As the 11th female trainer to have a horse in the final jewel of the Triple Crown, she is the first to secure that rare victory.
Yet, every story has its trials. Just when Arcangelo was basking in the glory, fate threw a curveball—an injury that curtailed his ascension in the racing world. A condylar fracture in his left hind foot caused him to miss the last three training days, and so the harsh stroke of luck led him to bow out from the esteemed Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, a twist that tugged at the heartstrings of his admirers. This hurdle, halting his racing pursuits, led to the agonizing decision to retire. As the resonance of his stride was hushed, the announcement on October 16, 2023, proclaimed his retirement to the tranquil haven of Lane’s End Farm, where he begins a fresh chapter, threading his legacy into the tapestry of future progeny.
Horse Profile
- Foaled: May 11, 2020
- Bred: Kentucky, United States
- Sex: Colt, ridgling
- Debuted: 2023
- Retired: 2024
- Death: N/A
- Color and Markings: Grey/Roan
- Sire: Arrogate
- Dam: Modeling
- Owner: Blue Rose Farm
- Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation (KY)
- Trainer: Jena Antonucci
- Primary/ Regular Jockeys: Javier Castellano
Characteristics
- In his early days, Arcangelo was the epitome of youthful zest, galloping through life with the unrestrained joy of a colt. He is playful and likes to prance about his round pen, a personal playground where he’d let loose, rolling and frolicking after his workouts. It was his own little celebration, a daily hat-tip to the sheer delight of being free and spirited, much like a young lad reveling in his own world of games and adventure.
- Initially, he displayed a youthful exuberance, perhaps a tad too playful at times, and he had a habit of savaging the ponies. But, as the races came and went, a remarkable transformation unfolded. Arcangelo began to show signs of maturity, honing his focus and abandoning his mischievous ways with the ponies. He evolved, adopting a more professional demeanor and taking his responsibilities on the track with a newfound seriousness. This shift towards professionalism is crucial in the demanding world of horse racing, where mental sharpness is as important as physical strength.
- Arcangelo is a self-sufficient sort, a truly astute equine. On the track, he’s nothing short of a sonnet in motion—a perfect blend of might and elegance, having a smooth, effortless gait. He glides with fluidity, and his composure is as steady as a ship in calm waters, a thoroughbred through and through, attuned to the race’s rhythm as if it were the beating of his own heart. Arcangelo runs with a resolve you can feel in the air, each step declaring his unyielding spirit.
- Arcangelo wasn’t just any horse, as his trainer Antonucci would say. He was a masterpiece, a living, breathing symphony of muscle and heart, embodying the soul of a true champion. His imposing presence wasn’t just for show; it mirrored the legacy of greatness he was destined to fulfill, with every race a step towards his destiny. His physical description paints the picture of an imposing figure on the track – a big, long-striding gray ridgling that boasts the deep shoulder and expansive girth reminiscent of his sire’s robust build. Such attributes indicate a horse with significant endurance and strength, essential for the rigorous demands of racing.
- Regarding his racing tactics, he’s not one to lead the charge but prefers to linger just a short stretch behind the pace, embodying the stalker style. He’s strategic, positioning himself just behind the frontrunners, ready to outmaneuver the likes of Forte, Angel of Empire, and Tapit Trice, all while cleverly avoiding unnecessary a ton of ground loss over the grueling 1 ½-mile distance. It is a brilliant strategy for a brilliant horse to execute a perfectly timed surge, knowing how to conserve his energy.
Major Won Races
- Peter Pan Stakes (2023)
- Belmont Stakes (2023)
- Travers Stakes (2023)
Achievements
- Arcangelo was rated 121 pounds on the 2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
- He is an Eclipse Award finalist for American champion 3-year-old male (2023)
- Arcangelo posted a 97 Beyer Speed Figure and 117 TimeformUS Speed Figure for his Peter Pan Stakes win.
Rankings
- He ranked 9th in earnings in 2023.
Retirement Plan
- Just when the anticipation was building for his appearance in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, fate, as it often does in our world of racing, had other plans. He encountered a bit of a hiccup, a foot issue, no less, sidelining him for the crucial last three days of training.
- On October 16, 2023, his owner announced that he would retire and enter a stud career at Lane’s End Farm in 2024.
- The situation escalated from soft whispers to undeniable reality. A condylar fracture, that uninvited ghost, emerged from the shadows, demanding recognition. And so, with a touch of solemnity, it was announced on October 16, 2023, that Arcangelo would bow out from the racing stage, retiring to embrace a new chapter at the prestigious Lane’s End Farm come 2024.
Arcangelo Connections
- Jockey: Javier Castellano
- Jockey Javier Castellano completed a dream 2023 Triple Crown series when he won his first Belmont Stakes victory aboard Arcangelo.
- He also won the 2023 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) on Mage, making him the first man to win two legs of the American Triple Crown in the same year on two different horses since Calvin Borel won the Derby with Mine That Bird and the Preakness with Rachel Alexandra in 2009.
- Castellano extended his Travers record to seven career wins when he guided Arcangelo to a victory in an accomplished field that included Mage, Preakness winner National Treasure, and 2022 champion 2-year-old male Forte.
- He ranked 38th in wins and 7th in earnings in 2023.
- Trainer: Jena Antonucci
- Arcangelo’s win on Belmont Stakes made Jena Antonucci the 1st female trainer to win a Triple Crown race. Antonucci became the 11th female trainer to have a horse in the final jewel of the Triple Crown. No other female trainer had won the race; only Dianne Carpenter’s Kingpost had the best finish before for a second to Risen Star in 1988.
- According to Jon Ebbert, Jenna is a detail-oriented and trustworthy person. She is friends with all her owners and treats them with high respect and gratitude.
- She was described as passionate and instinctive for training, entirely focused on developing racehorses with unique horsemanship skills. She believes in understanding her horses, building trust, being realistic with expectations, and not getting caught up chasing success.
- Antonucci burst onto the national Thoroughbred racing scene in 2023 when Arcangelo won the Peter Pan Stakes on the path to the Belmont Stakes.
- Owner: Blue Rose Farm
- Blue Rose Farm is the nom de course of owner Jon Ebbert, best known as the owner of 2023 Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo.
- Blue Rose Farm purchased Arcangelo at auction for $35,000 from Gainesway’s consignment at the 2021 September Yearling Sale at Keeneland.
- Jon Ebbert’s Blue Rose Farm earned its first career graded stakes win when Arcangelo scored in the Peter Pan.
- Blue Rose Farm ranked 60th in earnings in 2023.
Racing Career
| Record | Earnings | Fastest Beyer Speed | Highest E Speed Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
6: 4-1-0 | $1,754,900 | 105 | 105 |
| WON RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Finish | Winning Time | Winning Margin | Jockey |
2023 – Three-year-old season | ||||||||
March18, 2023 | 1 mile | Maiden Special Weight | Gulfstream Park | 1 | 1:34.82 | 3 ½ lengths | Javier Castellano | |
May 13, 2023 | 1 1/8 miles | Peter Pan Stakes | III | Belmont Park | 1 | 1:49.71 | head | Javier Castellano |
June 10, 2023 | 1 ½ miles | Belmont Stakes | I | Belmont Park | 1 | 2:29.23 | 1 ½ lengths | Javier Castellano |
August 26, 2023 | 1 ¼ miles | Travers Stakes | I | Saratoga | 1 | 2:02.23 | 1 length | Javier Castellano |
| LOST RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Placement | Time | Lossing Margin | Jockey |
2022 – Two-year-old season | ||||||||
December 17, 2022 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Gulfstream Park | 2 | 1:11.82 | (2 ¾ lengths) | Jose Ortiz | |
2023 – Three-year-old season | ||||||||
January 14, 2023 | 1 mile | Maiden Special Weight | Gulfstream Park | 4 | 1:39.18 | (2 ¾ lengths) | Jose Ortiz | |
Pedigree
SIRE: Arrogate
- Arcangelo is an inbred 3×4 to 1990 American champion 3-year-old male Unbridled and 4×4 to 1981 Canadian Horse of the Year and two-time American champion sire Deputy Minister,
- Arcangelo becomes the fifth Grade I winner for the gone-too-soon Arrogate, who was humanely euthanized after suffering from an undetermined illness in June 2020.
- Arrogate has incredible speed and the ability to carry it a long way.
DAM: Modeling
- Arcangelo was produced by unraced Modeling, who is by powerful stamina influence Tapit.
- Although she is unraced, she is a half-sister to the 2013 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1) winner Streaming (by Smart Strike) and to listed stakes winners Cascading (by A.P. Indy) and Treasuring (by Smart Strike). She is also a half-sister to Achieving (by Bernardini), dam of 2022 San Carlos Stakes (USA-G2) winner Cezanne (by Curlin), 2017 International Istanbul Trophy (TUR-G3) winner Arabian Hope (by Distorted Humor), and stakes winner Counterforce (by Smart Strike).
- Modeling’s sire, Tapit, is the king of the Belmont with four winners and the broodmare sire of 13 Grade I winners. He broke a North American sire’s single-season progeny earnings record in three consecutive years (2014-2016). He also broke Danzig’s 24-year-old single-season progeny earnings.
- Modeling and her siblings are out of Teeming (by Storm Cat), who won three of her four starts.
- Teeming is out of 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Better Than Honour (by Deputy Minister). Teeming is a half-sister to 2007 American champion 3-year-old filly Rags to Riches (by A.P. Indy), 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil (by Seeking the Gold), 2008 Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G2) winner Casino Drive (by Mineshaft), and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Marathon (USA-L) winner Man of Iron (by Giant’s Causeway).
- Foxfield bred the second dams of Arcangelo’s parents (Arrogate and Modeling) and are by the same stallion, Deputy Minister.