Jena Antonucci
The first female trainer to win a Triple Crown Race.
In 2023 after winning the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes, making Jena Antonucci the first female trainer in history to win a Triple Crown race. Arcangelo then went on to win the Travers Stakes, making Jena the second female in history to win the Travers in its 154-year history
Who is Jena Antonucci
“I didn’t pick them; they picked me. For that, I’m grateful.”
Seemingly born with the passion, Jena Antonucci had her first equine exposure quite young at three years old where she started her equestrian journey focusing on hunters, jumpers, and equitation.
She spent a lot of time in her teens retraining green retired thoroughbreds having no idea where it would lead later in life. This experience led to the curiosity to ask the question of how thoroughbreds are initially trained and developed.
Learned from the Best
With this hunger to learn, Jena was honored to work for Padua Stables under the D. Wayne Lukas breaking and training program starting young Thoroughbreds. With the full intention of returning to show horse land with this new perspective and growth, the thoroughbred industry won out, and the rest is becoming history!
Jena then worked as an equine veterinary assistant for several years. This opportunity provided another perspective on horses, their health and implementing best practices and additionally has proved to be invaluable for her.
Training with Instinct and Talent
Jena opened Bella Inizio Farm in 2008, initially focusing on reproductive work, young horses, and rehabilitating racehorses.
With her competitive side looking to be more fulfilled, she set off on her public training career earning her 1st win on March 7, 2010 at Tampa Bay Downs. Jena continues her winning racing program today across the country.
“The answer is already within each horse…it’s up to us to listen”
A NEW ERA FOR WOMEN IN RACING
In 2023 after winning the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes, making Jena Antonucci the first female trainer in history to win a Triple Crown race.
Arcangelo then went on to win the Travers Stakes, making Jena the second female in history to win the Travers in its 154-year history.
Closing out Arcangelo’s storied racing career, at the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards, he was awarded Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.
Enhance Coverage of Thoroughbred Racing
Jena was awarded with the 2023 Big Sport of Turfdom Award by the Turf Publicists of America, presented to individuals that enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists.
Continuing into 2024 and beyond
In 2024, Jena was voted by her peers to represent them on the board of New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association (NYTHA). NYTHA recognizes that its constituents are the lifeblood of the racing industry in New York and focuses its efforts on doing what is best for New York horses and horsemen. Jena also sits on the NYJICF (New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund) Board.
Minority and Women-Owned
In July 2022, Jena Antonucci and Katie Miranda launched horseOlogy, a minority and women-owned full-cycle thoroughbred training and ownership organization based in Ocala, Florida. horseOlogy handles everything related to thoroughbred breeding, training, and racing. They offer bloodstock advising, pinhooking, small-share partnerships, and more.
They are a serious team that wants to bring humor and enjoyment back into the sport of horseracing to make it relatable to the next generation of enthusiasts while respecting the long-steeped traditions.
Meeting the Needs of Retiring Horses
horseOlogy Encore, a 501c3 non-profit, was established by Jena and Katie in 2023 to meet the needs of retiring horses. Whether looking for a permanent pasture home or the ever-important support of transitioning to their next career, horseOlogy Encore is now available to existing and new clients.
855-HORSIES
Contact Us
I keep an open-door policy for owners. I continue to build a successful team with a family environment, which is the foundation for my growth. This allows me to maintain a consistent string of horses no matter where the team is racing.
Follow Me On
Brand Ambassador
Purina Animal Nutrition
#FeedGreatness
Purina has been leading the industry with innovation since 1894, and its purpose has never changed. It has always been driven to unlock every animal's greatest potential. Over the last 125 years, Purnina's ideas and research-backed nutritional solutions have modernized the way animals are fed.
dac® Vitamins and Minerals
Since 1983 Direct Action Co., Inc. (a.k.a. dac® Vitamins and Minerals) has offered superior, innovative equine and livestock supplements. dac® is a founding member of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) and was one of the first companies to earn the coveted NASC Quality Seal.
Spectra Animal Health
Spectra Animal Health was established in 1991. For 12 years, Spectra’s primary function was to produce, market and distribute MEGA-SEL®, a patented liquid Selenium and Vitamin E supplement for horses. Today, MEGA-SEL® is the #1 equine nutritional supplement for sore muscles in the U.S.
