2023 Belmont Stakes winner: Arcangelo (7-1) wins the 155th Belmont Stakes

Jena Antonucci became the first female trainer to win a U.S. Triple Crown race when Arcangelo rallied up the rail under Javier Castellano to spring a 7-1 upset in the 2023 Belmont (G1) at Belmont Park.

Coming off a determined victory in the Peter Pan (G3) at Belmont, Arcangelo saved ground early on as Preakness (G1) winner National Treasure dashed to the front through honest fractions of :23.63, :47.69, 1:12.56, and 1:37.41 while pressed on the inside by Tapit Shoes.

Arcangelo remained on the rail for much of the race, leaving his position only to split horses and pass the tiring Tapit Shoes. Then it was back to the inside, where Arcangelo challenged National Treasure before forging to a narrow lead at the top of the stretch.

A thrilling drive down the homestretch unfolded as 2-1 favorite Forte, returning from a 10-week layoff, gained ground alongside stablemate Tapit Trice while Angel of Empire and Hit Show battled to their inside. But Arcangelo’s daylight lead in midstretch proved insurmountable, and the game gray battled on to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths in 2:29.23 for 1 1/2 miles.

Forte narrowly edged Tapit Trice for second place, followed closely by Hit Show and Angel of Empire in a dead-heat for fourth position. National Treasure faded to finish sixth, while Il Miracolo, Red Route One, and Tapit Shoes completed the order of finish.

Bred by Don Alberto Corporation and owned by Blue Rose Farm, Arcangelo is a son of champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Arrogate out of the Tapit mare Modeling, whose dam—Teeming—is a half-sister to Belmont winners Jazil and Rags to Riches.

For trainer Javier Castellano, the Belmont extended a banner year and completed his personal Triple Crown. Winner of the Preakness in 2006 and 2017, Castellano nabbed his first Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard Mage earlier this year, while Arcangelo marked his first triumph in the final leg of the three-race series.

Arcangelo paid $17.80 to win, $7.20 to place, and $4.90 to show. Forte returned $4.30 to place and $3.30 to show, while Tapit Trice generated a $4.10 show payoff. (All payoffs based on $2 bets.)

The $1 exacta paid $34, the 50-cent trifecta $66.62, the 10-cent superfectas $19.15 (with Angel of Empire and $29.25 (with Hit Show), the $1 double $35.50, the $1 Pick 3 $42.75, the 50-cent Pick 4 $183.25, and the $1 Grand Slam $25.75. Bettors who assembled winning $1 Pick 6 tickets picked up a $1,492.50 payoff, while those selecting five out of six winners garnered $21.60 for every 5-of-6 combination.