As Jon Ebbert saw a possibility to secure one of the biggest prizes in North American racing, the owner who races as Blue Rose Farm doubled down on that dream.
After Ebbert watched his Arcangelo post a determined win over Bishops Bay in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) May 13 at Belmont Park—the local prep for the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1)—Ebbert turned his focus to the classic. That focus would prove unwavering.
First, the owner paid a $50,000 late nomination fee to make Arcangelo eligible for the 1 1/2-mile classic—quite an investment considering Ebbert paid just $35,000 for the son of Arrogate at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Gainesway's consignment. Then in the weeks between the races Ebbert turned down numerous offers to sell Arcangelo or sell a share of the 3-year-old.
"I wanted to go with the horse," Ebbert said. "People offered me a lot of money for the horse, and we just have faith in this horse. The horse is special.
"We just had a lot of calls, trying to buy the horse, or shares on the horse, trying to move the horse. (Trainer Jena Antonucci's) phone rang non-stop actually. I kind of used her as a buffer. They called her and she said, 'Stop right there, the horse isn't for sale.'"
That belief would pay off as Ebbert, who works in real estate in Pennsylvania and will turn 40 June 13, secured the first grade 1 stakes win of his career in the Belmont. Inspired by a grandmother's love of racing, Ebbert launched his small ownership operation in 2009 at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) with Daydreamin Boy. Horse racing has been a passion for Ebbert nearly his entire life.
"Basically I was 6 years old and my mother took me over to my grandmother's house. We were going to take her out to eat. And she said she can't go out. She's got money on the Kentucky Derby," Ebbert told BloodHorse before the Belmont Stakes. "I never saw this before. I think the experience just stuck with me.
"(Trainer Wayne) Lukas won with Winning Colors. The filly won; that just kind of stuck with me forever.
"When I was 8, I asked my mom to go horseback riding and she's like, 'Oh, you want to ride a horse?' It went from there. I rode a horse a couple times and then, basically about 15 years ago I bought my first racehorse."
The week leading up to the Belmont Stakes, Ebbert sported a permanent smile and that continued after the big win.
"It's huge. I started this sport as a young kid. I thought this would be easy," Ebbert said. "Fifteen years later, it's been a journey. It was a journey over the 15 years. I mean, I learned a lot and I think that's where I got my patience from, just kind of trial and error."