On Saturday, June 10, the horse racing world watched as Jena Antonucci made history as the first female trainer to saddle a winner of a Triple Crown race when Arcangelo won the Grade I Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, with Javier Castellano onboard. Although a Triple Crown wasn’t on the line, it was still a very memorable day. In this post I’ll share just a few (okay, a lot) of my favorite photos from that day, and some illustrations too! Oh yeah, and a video. Enjoy!
This impressive large scale sculpture of Secretariat by artist Jocelyn Russell has been making the rounds and settled at Belmont Park for the Belmont Stakes. It is now up in Saratoga.
Inside the paddock, a beautiful flower blanket made by Susan Garrett and her team adorns the Secretariat statue.
Secretariat was the buzzword of the day, with this year being the 50th anniversary of his historic Triple Crown win.
Love to Shop won the opener, a maiden special weight, for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. Here she is in the paddock ahead of the race.
Jockey Manny Franco looks pensive in the paddock ahead of the first race.
Javier Castellano aboard Spun Special, hours before he helped make history.
Florent Géroux rode Cindylouwho in the first race.
Trophies and plates sit on a table behind the winner’s circle.
Love to Shop is led towards the winner’s circle after winning the first race with Tyler Gaffalione onboard.
Tyler Gaffalione is all smiles in the winner’s circle.
Twin buglers Irv and Sam Grossman posed for a photo.
I applied a tilt-shift effect to many of my Belmont day photos, which makes the horses and riders look miniature. It’s a lot of fun to play around with!
Bill Mott trainee Elite Power wins the Grade II True North Stakes with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.
Irad Ortiz looks upward as he enters the winner’c circle on Elite Power.
This large tree is a fixture of the Belmont paddock.
The National Museum of Racing’s traveling Secretariat exhibit, “A Tremendous Machine,” was open for viewing in the backyard. One of the highlights was Secretariat’s saddle.
These two acrobats put on quite a show for passersby!
The scene on the track apron before the fourth race.
The outriders pass by on the track.
It was a gorgeous day!
Irad Ortiz rides Allaboutthemoney in the fourth race.
The view from the third floor.
The post parade for the Grade III Poker Stakes.
The horses go around the backstretch in the Poker Stakes.
Heading down the stretch!
Emmanuel is victorious.
Jockey Luan Machado heads to the paddock ahead of the Grade II Brooklyn Stakes.
A pony rider posts for the camera.
Alfio makes his way out to the track with Luis Saez onboard.
The field heads toward the first turn in the Brooklyn Stakes.
Next is victorious, with Luan Machado in the irons.
Good boy, Next!
Next up was the Grade I Ogden Phipps, the only filly and mare stakes race of the day.
Clairiere holds off Search Results to win the Ogden Phipps for the second year in a row.
Jockey Joel Rosario is all smiles in the winner’s circle.
The horses round the far turn in the Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes. This was another great candidate for the tilt-shift effect.
Bob Baffert trainee Arabian Lion is the winner with John Velázquez onboard.
Fans in the stands excitedly watch the finish of the race.
Caravel looking pretty in the paddock ahead of the Grade I Jaipur Stakes.
Caravel is ponied out on the track with Tyler Gaffalione onboard.
The Pennsylvania-bred Horse of the Year nets herself another Grade I win.
Part of the fun of the Triple Crown is seeing all the fashions at the races.
Fan favorite Cody’s Wish is ponied out on the track with Junior Alvarado onboard ahead of the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap.
Cody’s Wish draws away from the pack as the field heads down the stretch.
Cody’s Wish wins his fourth Grade I stakes race in a row with his victory in the Met Mile.
Fans watch in delight as Cody’s Wish finishes off another dazzling performance.
Junior Alvarado blows a kiss in the winner’s circle.
I came across Bobby Flay, who was kind enough to pose for a photo.
The light was getting very pretty right before the Grade I Manhattan Stakes.
The horses head toward the gate for the Manhattan Stakes.
And they’re off!
Up to the Mark leads the way to the finish line.
It’s finally time! The horses head out onto the track for the Grade I Belmont Stakes. Javier Castellano and Arcangelo can be seen in the back.
The mood in the stands before the big race.
Arcangelo is one of the last to be led into the gate.
The field crosses the finish line for the first time.
The crowd captures the field passing by on their phones.
Arcangelo draws away from the rest of the field as they make their way down the stretch.
Arcangelo is victorious and nets Javier Castellano his first Belmont Stakes win. Now Javier has won each leg of the Triple Crown at least once!
Javier celebrates as he gallops down.
Celebration in the stands after Arcangelo’s victory.
Red Route One gets a bath post race.
Runner up Forte makes his way back with Irad Ortiz onboard.
Javier Castellano returns on Arcangelo with outrider Miguel Gutiérrez.
The mood at Belmont after the big race.
Javier waves to the crowd.
Arcangelo’s connections go out to congratulate him and Javier.
Javier looks up at the crowd as Arcangelo is led into the winner’s circle.
My favorite shot of the day!
P.S. I got to meet Arcangelo at the Oklahoma Track in Saratoga! His groom Giovanni took a photo of me with him.
I also made some illustrations to commemorate Belmont Stakes Day.
My new favorite thing is layering my drawings of horses over the program of the race they won.
I also made a video of the day, made to look like a world of miniatures. Email subscribers, click here to watch the video.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. To see more of my equine illustrations, follow @togadoodles on Instagram. All photos and illustrations in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “Belmont Stakes Day”
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Beautiful pictures!!