Antonucci making a go of it in California
:quality(75))
Jena Antonucci, best known for winning the Belmont and Travers Stakes with Arcangelo in 2023, has had a presence at Del Mar this summer and may have runners in California this fall.
Antonucci, who is based primarily in New York, won with two of her first three runners at Del Mar and starts Ms Liu in a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at a mile in Thursday’s second race. Earlier this summer, Antonucci won maiden races at Del Mar with Bull Shoals and Girls Wear Pearls, and Party Animal finished second as a maiden in the Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds on July 31.
“You have to have the horses for it and owners that want to be there,” Antonucci said of racing in California.
As for racing at Santa Anita this fall, Antonucci said, “We’ll keep our eye on some stakes races.”
:: Play to Win at Del Mar! Get DRF Past Performances, Expert Picks and Clocker Reports
Ms Liu starts from the outside post in a field of five in her third start. She was third in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct on June 21 but last of nine in a maiden race at six furlongs at Saratoga on July 25, a loss Antonucci dismisses.
“It was a put-a-line-through-it race,” she said.
This month, Ms Liu has had two workouts at Del Mar in advance of Thursday’s race. She will be fitted with blinkers for the first time on Thursday.
Antonucci said there are no race plans for Party Animal, but that Bull Shoals has a scheduled start in the $200,000 Gio Ponti Stakes at a mile on turf at Saratoga on Sept. 7.