When Jon Ebbert saw a chance to win one of the biggest prizes in racing in North America, race owner Blue Rose Farm doubled down on that dream.
After Ebbert watched Arcangelo post a determined victory Bishops’ Bay in Peter Pan Stakes (G3) May 13 at Belmont Park—local preparation for June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1)—Ebbert shifts his focus to classics. That focus will prove unwavering.
First, the owner paid a $50,000 late nomination fee to qualify Arcangelo for the classic 1 and a half mile — a pretty hefty investment considering Ebbert only paid $35,000 for Arrogate’s son at Keeneland’s September 2021 annual sale from Gainesway shipment. Then, in the weeks between races, Ebbert turned down multiple offers to sell Arcangelo or sell a part of the 3-year-old.
“I want to go with the horse,” said Ebbert. “People have paid me a lot of money to buy a horse, and we just have faith in this horse. The horse is very special.
“We had a lot of calls, trying to buy the horse, or stock on the horse, trying to move the horse. (Coach Jena Antonucci)’s phone really rang non-stop. I used it. They used her as a buffer. They called her and she said, ‘Stop right there, the horse is not for sale.'”
That faith will pay off when Ebbert, who works in real estate in Pennsylvania and will turn 40 on June 13, clinched his first career 1st place bet win in New York. Belmont. Inspired by his grandmother’s love of racing, Ebbert began his small ownership operation in 2009 in Philadelphia Park (now called Philadelphia). The Parx . Race) with Daydreamin Boy. Horse racing has been Ebbert’s passion for most of his life.
“I was basically 6 years old and my mom took me to my grandmother’s house. We were going to take her out to eat. And she said she couldn’t go out. She had money to go to the Kentucky Derby,” Ebbert said. with BloodHorse before Belmont Stakes. “I’ve never seen this before. I think the experience haunted me.
“(Coach Wayne) Lukas won with Winning Colors. Dirty won; that haunts me forever.
“When I was eight years old, I asked my mother to go horseback riding and she said, ‘Oh, you want to ride?’ It started there. I rode a few times and then, about 15 years ago, I bought my first racehorse.”
Last week at Belmont Stakes, Ebbert put on a permanent smile and that continues after the big win.
“It’s huge. I started the sport when I was a kid. I thought it was going to be easy,” Ebbert said. “Fifteen years later, it’s been a journey. It’s been a journey of 15 years. I mean, I’ve learned a lot and I think that’s where I get the patience, just trying and wrong.”
