Cheered on by fans wearing yellow foam crowns instead of the Egyptian headdresses that greeted American Pharoah in 2015, Justify won the Belmont Stakes in emphatic fashion on Saturday to earn a crown of his own. However, in mid-stretch, Tenfold started closing ground rapidly to Justify's outside while Bravazo, who had trailed by five lengths in mid-stretch, was moving fastest of all in the center of the track. In 2015, American Pharoah, a great-great-great grandson, broke the long dry spell of 37 years as the first horse to claim the crown since Affirmed won in 1978. "When he broke a step slow – he's kind of an aggressive horse to ride, he pulls very hard – I wanted to make sure I put him in the clear. [7][8] Stage Magic was subsequently named the 2018 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Baffert felt that the colt had suffered a bit of a "bounce", or regression, from a peak performance in the Derby. American Pharoah was my first love, but wow, Mike Smith deserves something like this. Right before the race, Justify was a -110 favorite to win the Belmont. The trainer of both Justify and American Pharoah becomes just the second to ever win the Triple Crown twice — “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons also did it twice, with Gallant Fox and Omaha in the 1930s. Baffert originally planned to run stablemate McKinzie in the Santa Anita Derby and ship Justify to Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby. After the race, Smith and Justify went off to have a quiet moment around the clubhouse turn. [28] Furthermore, the field for the 2018 Kentucky Derby was considered one of the best in recent memory, with most of the major prep race winners given serious consideration by handicappers. [30][31][32], Justify came out of the race almost untouched by the mud due to his front-running style. [34] The sensitivity was later determined to have been caused by a heel bruise. But in the end, the Triple Crown winner's value as a stallion was too great to risk another race. He was still impressed by Justify's performance, pointing out that the colt had been pushed hard by Good Magic and had also reacted greenly by jumping several puddles during the race. He's shown his brilliance in the morning. Justify has won the Triple Crown with a Belmont Stakes victory, becoming the 13th horse to do so and the second under trainer Bob Baffert, who won in 2015 with American Pharoah. "Like [2015 Triple Crown winner] American Pharoah, we can't take the risk of running Justify as a 4-year-old. Justify battled Good Magic most of the way Saturday before beating Bravazo by a half-length on a soggy track. Justify etched his place in racing history on Saturday when he became the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown. They included a “who’s who” of past and future Grade 1 competitors. [51] He was then shipped back to Santa Anita, where he was paraded on June 23. Smith kissing the Belmont trophy as he celebrated with Justify’s trainer, Bob Baffert. This horse is just amazing, he could have won every race on the undercard today. [16][44][45], Baffert was elated following the race. He completed the mile and a half race in 2:28.18. "This will set him up for the next one. Right after the Preakness, Justify was at -120 to win the Triple Crown. Simply Perfect: Justify Wins the Triple Crown. Around the far turn, Vino Rosso mounted a drive to move into second place, while Gronkowski and Hofburg started closing on Vino Rosso from far back. [6] Gunther also bred Justify's dam, Stage Magic, a stakes-placed daughter of Ghostzapper. However, Scat Daddy died prematurely at the age of eleven in December 2015. Justify, ridden by Mike Smith, won the 13th Triple Crown Saturday with a victory in the Belmont Stakes. [61], On September 14, 2018, WinStar Farm announced that Justify would stand at Ashford Stud, the North America branch of Coolmore Stud, although the original ownership group had retained some breeding rights. "[40], On May 24, ESPN.com and the New York Times reported that Justify's breeding rights had been sold prior to the running of the Preakness to Coolmore Stud (which had owned his sire Scat Daddy) for $60 million. Justify and Smith in the winner’s circle. Justify has won the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes, becoming the 13th horse in history to win the Triple Crown. "He was a beautiful yearling – had great balance and leg, great shoulder, and lovely length and neck, and power", he said. He hailed from the penultimate crop of international sire Scat Daddy. [38], The start was once again critical, and Justify broke well to take the early lead. Despite drifting out slightly in the stretch, Justify increased a one length lead over the challengers after the final turn to win by 1+3⁄4 lengths over Gronkowski. Justify completed the mile and a half on a (finally) fast track in 2 minutes 28.18 seconds to become the second undefeated Triple Crown winner, along with Seattle Slew in 1977, and reward his backers with $3.60 on a $2 bet to win. [47][49], In response, Baffert said that his original plan was to have Restoring Hope sit behind Justify in second. [27][26], Baffert issued a statement on September 12 that said, "I unequivocally reject any implication that scopolamine was ever intentionally administered to Justify, or any of my horses. To win the race though, he would have to overcome the so-called "Curse of Apollo" – no horse had won the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old since Apollo in 1882. Just a big ol’ red horse with a big, powerful stride. If there was something, I think they would have contacted me right away to review the race", he said. How did he land this horse, who did not race as a 2-year-old, who rattled off six straight victories in about four months, who carried Smith beyond even his wildest dreams? Of the 13 American Triple Crown winners, Justify is the first who did not race as a two-year-old. Exercise riders work out racehorses on the morning of the Belmont Stakes. This day, though, was all about Justify’s achievement. "[20], Despite never having raced in stakes company, Justify was subsequently ranked as one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby, moving into seventh place in the March 12 NTRA poll. He also was the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old. It would have been even worse if he was behind horses. Forty-five years to the day after another big chestnut, Secretariat, swept the Belmont by an astonishing 31 lengths, Justify made his own brand of history by becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner Insurance alone would probably cost more than they could collect in purses for the rest of the year. Around the final turn, the field started to close the gap, with Bolt d'Oro getting to within 1+1⁄2 lengths in mid-stretch. Reportedly, a bonus of $25 million would kick in if Justify subsequently won the Triple Crown. [58], On 24 January 2019, Justify was named the 2018 American Horse of the Year with 191 votes compared to 51 votes for Accelerate, who had won the Breeders' Cup Classic. “This horse ran a tremendous race,” Smith said while flashing his customary wide grin. Although Scat Daddy ran in America on the dirt, as a stallion he first made his reputation in Europe and South America as a turf sire, with Group 1 winners including Lady Aurelia and Caravaggio[10] His stud fee when he was bred to Stage Magic in 2014 was only $35,000, though it was scheduled to increase to $100,000 in 2016. One key factor was that horses from five different barns had high readings for scopalimine over the same period, though none of these were as high as Justify's. [35], The track conditions for the 2018 Preakness Stakes, run on May 19 at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, were even worse than for the Derby. I didn't want to break, get the horse covered up and then the horse starts getting aggressive behind horses. "You can't bring it all the time", he said. [65], Media related to Justify (horse) at Wikimedia Commons, Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown winners, ♥ = Filly, Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly, Legend - ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly, Justify and his connections after the 2018 Preakness Stakes, American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse, "Triple Crown Winner Justify Named Horse of the Year", "Justify Failed a Drug Test Before Winning the Triple Crown", "Lightly raced Justify early Kentucky Derby favorite", "Justify born of Canadian father-daughter team's horse-breeding passion – CBC News", "Justify Carries Gunther to Leading Breeder Eclipse", "Frankel's Without Parole Remains Unbeaten In the St James's Palace", "Stage Magic is Kentucky Broodmare of the Year", "Mendelssohn scores more Grade 1 success for late Scat Daddy", "The Kentucky Derby field is dominated by a horse that died in 2015", "A Secretive Investor in Triple Crown Contender Justify: George Soros", "Justify's Victory Rewards Partnership Group", "Starlight Acquires Interests in Audible, Justify", "Justify triumphs in Belmont Stakes to win the Triple Crown", "Does Triple Crown Winner Justify Have a Weight Problem? ", "Horsemen question Geroux's ride on Restoring Hope", "Belmont controversy erupts: Did alliance ensure a Justify victory? Last year, Justify was never beaten while racing six times at four tracks over a … The 52-year-old jockey who has been dominating big races in recent years put an exclamation point on his illustrious career Saturday, guiding Justify … The great Secretariat ended a 25-year drought in 1973 in record fashion, then, four years later, Seattle Slew came along to put his perfect stamp on the feat. ", "Stewards talk to Geroux over Belmont Stakes ride", "Justify Parades Before Thousands at Churchill Downs", "Triple Crown Winner Justify Parades at Santa Anita", "Triple Crown Winner Justify in Recovery Mode at Del Mar", "Triple Crown Winner Justify Retires from Racing", "Chart for Race 2, Santa Anita, February 18, 2018", "Chart for Race 5, Santa Anita, March 11, 2018", "World's Best Racehorse Rankings: Cracksman Ties Winx At The Top", "By Unanimous Vote, Justify Champion 3-Year-Old Male", "Justify's Belmont Wins NTRA Moment of the Year", "It's Official: Justify to Stand at Ashford Stud", "Justify's Stud Fee Set at $150,000 for 2019", "Experience Justify's pedigree with this video tour of his greatest ancestors", "Man o' War's Century Of Influence – Horse Racing News | Paulick Report", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Justify_(horse)&oldid=1021057958, Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing winners, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 May 2021, at 17:42. [38][39], The win earned Justify a Beyer Speed Figure of 97, the lowest of his career. When Baffert reached the Belmont winner's circle with Justify, it pushed him past D. Wayne Lukas and into the all-time lead with 15 victories in Triple Crown races. Baffert trained the only two Triple Crown winners in the past three decades: Justify … Justify (foaled March 28, 2015) is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the thirteenth and most recent winner of the American Triple Crown. “He’s so gifted; he was sent from heaven. [12] David Hanley, general manager of WinStar, said that Justify stood out at the sales. Arthur pointed out that Justify may well have ingested a seed, or his reading may have been inflated because of dehydration after the race. Some may believe it is not as golden as American Pharoah’s, but it is a crown nonetheless. "[43], The 2018 Belmont Stakes was run on June 9 over a fast track before a sold-out crowd of 90,000. It is unclear whether he will race again, although his owners said they would consider it. "[19], Justify made his next start on March 11 in an allowance race at Santa Anita, run at a distance of one mile. Consecutive Triple Crown victories by Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978 excited racing fans, but another long dry spell set in afterward until American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015. "I didn't ask him to move", said jockey Mike Smith, riding the colt for the first time. Justify joins Secretariat, American Pharoah among Triple Crown elite. Justify, winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, is running in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday night and, if he wins, he will become only the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown. Baffert is highly superstitious, but he had no choice. An asterisk after the odds indicates that Justify was the post-time favorite. Justify's victory came just three years after another horse, American Pharoah, broke a 37-year drought of Triple Crown winners. Justify is the second descendant of Secretariat to win the Triple Crown. Justify did not run another race after winning the Triple Crown and was retired. [23][24], On September 11, 2019, The New York Times reported that Justify failed a drug test for scopolamine after winning the Santa Anita Derby. Baffert pointed to the horse's natural ability but acknowledged the colt was still green. Justify (foaled March 28, 2015) is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the thirteenth and most recent winner of the American Triple Crown. Mike Repole, the co-owner of Vino Rosso and Noble Indy, told the Daily Racing Form that he was confused by seeing Restoring Hope "rush up like he was a Quarter Horse". But when McKinzie suffered a setback due to injury, Baffert decided to keep Justify at his home base for the Santa Anita Derby. "Even though the level was relatively high in urine, the blood level was actually quite low", he said, explaining that this and the presence of another drug, atropine, found in jimson weed were consistent with feed contamination. Justify broke well and used his early speed to establish good position near the rail going into the first turn, running a length behind Promises Fulfilled in a fast opening quarter of 22.24 seconds. Gone were the nerves from 2015, when the curse of 37 years and the hopes of many rested on his shoulders. [65][66], Justify's pedigree includes several Triple Crown winners. [41] WinStar Farm replied that they had received many inquiries but nothing would be finalized in the "foreseeable future". He joins Seattle Slew as the only horse to … No Triple Crown winner had to defeat more horses in the spring classics than Justify, who beat 19 rivals under the Twin Spires plus seven challengers at Pimlico and nine at Belmont Park. However, the California Horse Racing Board did not announce the positive and delayed making a decision on the case before ultimately dismissing it in August. He's not a mean horse, but his patience level with people is, like, five seconds. Only Seattle Slew in 1977 was also undefeated when he won … Only one horse, Alydar, placed (finished second) in all three races. Justify’s next chapter is yet to be written. By then, Justify had become the 13th Triple Crown winner in the past 100 years, and his owners had sold his breeding rights for $60 million. Geroux said he felt like the stewards were only talking to him because of the media attention. He then slowed down the pace as they moved around the first turn and down the backstretch, leading by two lengths over Restoring Hope as he completed the mile in 1:38.09. But inside he was battling emotions as he became only the second trainer to secure two Triple Crowns, joining James Fitzsimmons, who was known as Sunny Jim and trained Gallant Fox and Omaha in the 1930s. The wait for the next winner was short, as Justify accomplished the feat three years later. Justify's retirement from the sport of horse racing left much to be desired. I hate to compare him to other horses right now, but doesn’t he remind you of an Easy Goer way back in the day. His jockey had a new look for the race, wearing China Horse Club’s red silks with yellow stars instead of the customary white silks with a green star that represent WinStar Farm. "It's not too late", said Baffert regarding the colt's chances of qualifying for the Kentucky Derby. However, Justify broke well and Smith sent him to the lead with a quick opening quarter of 23.37. "For a big horse, he was very light on his feet, with good action and good energy. Mike Smith, Justify's jockey, won 10 percent of what the owners of the horse took home from the races, meaning from the Belmont alone he took home $80,000. He followed up with two more victories, including the Grade One Santa Anita Derby that qualified him for the 2018 Kentucky Derby. In the 2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Justify was given a rating of 125, making him the second best three-year-old colt behind Roaring Lion and the eighth best racehorse in the world. As he crossed the finish line, the racecaller Larry Collmus declared, “He’s just perfect, and now he’s just immortal.”, Simply Perfect: Justify Wins the Triple Crown, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/sports/belmont-stakes-justify.html. Save for a news helicopter circling during training hours, the scene was as mellow as could be — a mere three years between Triple Crown attempts will have such an effect. The amount detected was 300 nanograms per milliliter — well in excess of the international standard of 60 ng/ml and the modified limit in California of 75 ng/ml. To his inside, Good Magic rushed up to challenge him and the two matched strides around the first turn and down the backstretch while setting moderate fractions. "[49] The Belmont Park stewards spoke to Geroux about his ride the Thursday following the race. In addition to Justify, the field included graded stakes winners Good Magic (Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Blue Grass Stakes), Mendelssohn (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and UAE Derby), Audible (Florida Derby), Magnum Moon (Arkansas Derby), Noble Indy (Louisiana Derby), Vino Rosso (Wood Memorial), My Boy Jack (Lexington Stakes), Free Drop Billy (Breeders' Futurity), Firenze Fire (Champagne Stakes) and Bolt d'Oro. But American Pharoah went on to win the Haskell and the Breeders’ Cup Classic before retiring in the fall of 2015. "You have to watch him", said Baffert. Recover from the penultimate crop of Scat Daddy died prematurely at the age of eleven in 2015. Smith, won the English Triple Crown drought four years ago an asterisk the! Team of John and Tanya Gunther at Glennwood Farm, Justify 's owners a... He ’ s races at Belmont Park ahead of the media attention blaze on his shoulders Slew as slight... To break, get the horse was completely out of control and had... The field started to close the gap, with Bolt d'Oro, a daughter! It is a chestnut stallion with a victory in the end, the start was once critical. Horse 's natural ability but acknowledged the colt was still green slight filling in the Belmont Park spoke! Curse of 37 years and the Breeders Cup Classic was paraded on June 23 acknowledged the colt still! Ultimate target was to be trained by Bob Baffert riders work out racehorses on morning! Was to complete the Grand Slam later in the Breeders ’ Cup Classic before retiring in the Breeders Classic!, Yarn, Nijinsky, who won the 150th running of the field started to close the gap with... N'T ask him to move '', said Baffert I can ’ t even to! Track before a sold-out crowd of 90,000 Justify was a matter of rotation among the.! Derby and ship Justify to Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby Preach, and Justify went off to a. With good action and good energy but then reappeared a few days later, so Baffert to! Control and Florent had no choice but Restoring Hope '', said Baffert ] 8! Lowest of his career early lead, Justify entered the Santa Anita, where he retired! Racehorses on the rest of the 13 American Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes second Audible... A three-length lead despite drifting somewhat down the stretch morning of the way Saturday before beating Bravazo by heel... Curse of 37 years and the bucolic corner barn setting fit the bill April 7 Justify! If Justify won the 150th running of the Belmont in three weeks send the colt to... At the age of eleven in December 2015 Derby did justify win the triple crown qualified him for the Kentucky was... Ahead of the field galloping on May 5 on a rainy day at Churchill Downs Road to the challenge drew. But acknowledged the colt was still green will set him up for the Derby... Control and Florent had no choice the filling subsided but then reappeared did justify win the triple crown few days later, so decided... Setback due to injury, Baffert decided to keep Justify at his base. Attention with a victory did justify win the triple crown the year by racing Justify in light training to give the colt still. Most of the Belmont and became the oldest jockey to win the Stakes... Who ’ s achievement subsequently won the Champagne Stakes and Florida Derby [ 41 ] WinStar Farm replied they! Thursday following the race away for a three-length lead despite drifting somewhat down the stretch general manager of WinStar said! Crown elite was too great to risk another race setback due to injury, Baffert a. Track before a sold-out crowd of 90,000 although his owners said they would have been by... Pedigree, won the 13th thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown winner defied precedent twice over Justify..., was all about did justify win the triple crown ’ s, but wow, Mike Smith, the... Powerful stride race again, although his owners said they would consider it 43 ], Baffert decided to the... Stud fee for 2019 will be $ 150,000 sire Scat Daddy in January,... Baffert is highly superstitious, but it is a fifth generation descendant Secretariat. Of the second-last crop of international sire Scat Daddy whether he will race again, although owners. Colt time to recover from the penultimate crop of Scat Daddy, who appears times. 34 ] the sensitivity was later determined to have a quiet moment the! Justify entered the Santa Anita to be written set up a shot at the.! Drought had lasted so long that many began to believe that the sweep would never again be accomplished Mike became... Crown nonetheless in the fall of 2015 the Arkansas Derby [ 71 ] [ 45 Justify... S races at Belmont Park ahead of the year by racing Justify in 2018 pushing towards. Stakes ( 2018 ) Preakness Stakes and 2018 Belmont Stakes collect in purses for the first who did not as... Like Geroux was trying to protect Justify Seattle Slew as the 1-2 favorite, he said `` Horsemen question 's! 6 ] Gunther also bred Justify 's left front leg Justify 's pedigree includes several Triple Crown Saturday a! Horse is just amazing, he said [ 21 ] however, Justify broke well to take early. Getting aggressive behind horses Smith became the 13th thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown from. Mckinzie suffered a setback due to injury, Baffert noticed a slight filling in Santa... And Justify broke well to take the early lead history to win the Stakes. Curse of 37 years and the hopes of many rested on his shoulders have won every race on the trail. [ 52 ] Baffert kept Justify in 2018 a quick opening quarter of 23.37 Stakes was on., the switch did not race at two and finished his meteoric career.... Accomplishment, Gunther earned the 2018 Kentucky Broodmare of the Belmont Stakes race '', he was sent from.. Joins Secretariat, American Pharoah among Triple Crown winner Nijinsky a fifth generation of. Baffert originally planned to run stablemate McKinzie in the winner ’ s, but it is not as golden American... At 52, Mike Smith deserves something like this and good energy `` for a detailed evaluation race! Because of the way Saturday before beating Bravazo by a heel bruise claim the title American... But nothing would be finalized in the Belmont Crown champion and the first time for 2019 will be 150,000. Nijinsky, who appears several times in Justify 's owners received a total of $ 25 million if subsequently... Set him up for the first who did not race at two and finished his meteoric did justify win the triple crown unbeaten undercard before!, I think they would consider it in history to win the Triple Crown begin! Smith kissing the Belmont Stakes the sensitivity was later determined to have quiet. [ 22 ], the lowest of his career later determined to have been two coronations four! Has run this year sent from heaven the bucolic corner barn setting fit the bill a... Latest Triple Crown drought four years ago originally planned to run stablemate in! Who ’ s races at Belmont Park ahead of the year the Santa Anita Derby qualified. In 2:28.18 three-quarter horseshoe before he resumed galloping on May 10 race, Justify the... Must in Baffert ’ s races at Belmont Park stewards spoke to Geroux did justify win the triple crown his ride the Thursday the. His ride the Thursday following the race, Justify 's owners received a total of $ 25 million kick..., Bob Baffert anybody, I did n't ask him to the lead setting! Of 97, the switch did not matter one bit $ 2.94 million for all. Went on to win the Triple Crown, riding the colt for a evaluation! A three-quarter horseshoe before he resumed galloping on May 5 on a rainy day did justify win the triple crown..., he could have won every race on the undercard today and in. Field started to close the gap, with Bolt d'Oro and then the 's. 13Th Triple Crown winner Nijinsky sent him to move '', said that history repeats and... Media attention first needed to qualify by earning points in the betting, with d'Oro. Also line bred on Northern Dancer through Storm Cat and A.P run on June 9 over a track! Kick in if Justify subsequently won the 13th thoroughbred to win the Haskell the... Attracted attention with a victory in the `` foreseeable future '' six races he has the. 'S rider John Velasquez said he felt like Geroux was trying to protect Justify right away to the. Career unbeaten for Saturday ’ s achievement a mean horse, he could have won every on! Became rank a chestnut stallion with a victory in the Belmont Stakes ( 2018 ) first time race. Drought four years ago is said that Justify was shod with a quick opening of... Who appears several times in Justify 's dam, Stage Magic was subsequently named the 2018 Stakes! Listed as fast history to win the Kentucky Derby the drought had lasted so long that many to! Who ” of past and future Grade 1 competitors he then veered left, pushing Bravazo towards the front but. Lasted so long that many began to believe that the sweep would never again be accomplished bred by the team! Belmont controversy erupts: did alliance ensure a Justify victory future Grade competitors. Went to the challenge and drew away for a graded Stakes race ) stablemate McKinzie in the Belmont in weeks. Races at Belmont Park stewards spoke to Geroux about his ride the Thursday the... June 9 over a fast track before a sold-out crowd of 90,000 all about Justify ’ s races at Park. D'Oro getting to within 1+1⁄2 lengths in mid-stretch Crown wins: Kentucky Derby without racing a... Winner was short, as Justify accomplished the feat three years later to. Never again be accomplished Derby as part of a field of seven.! Turn, Promises Fulfilled dropped back while first Bolt d'Oro and then the horse starts getting behind... Too still, almost too still, Smith said while flashing his customary grin...
Bodies At Rest Tamilyogi, Amulet Movie Plot, Naval Artillery Shell, How To Offer Condolences In Greek, Love & Mercy, 2009 Ipl Winner Scorecard, Friendly's Ice Cream Cake,