Justify Survives Hard-Fought Battle to Capture Foggy Preakness

[Wandering Eyes]

JUSTIFY (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) survived a race-long duel with champion Good Magic (Curlin) and had just enough left in the tank to hold off late surges from Bravazo (Awesome Again) and Tenfold (Curlin) to capture the GI Preakness S. at a fog-laced Pimlico Racecourse Saturday. The undefeated chestnut ‘TDN Rising Star’ ran his record to a perfect five-for-five on the heels of his win in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5 and is expected to bid to become racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner in the June 9 GI Belmont S. Justify’s win added to his remarkable rise to the top of the game, which kicked off with a maiden win at Santa Anita Feb. 18 and continued with an easy allowance score in Arcadia Mar. 11. He then captured the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7 in wire-to-wire fashion, setting him up for his winning run beneath the Twin Spires. Embroiled in a duel with Good Magic to his inside through a reasonable half-mile in :47.19, the pair remained head and head spinning into the stretch, with Justify gradually edging in front once straightened out for the drive. He was all out to the wire, and Bravazo surged past Tenfold to secure the place spot while significantly closing down the gap on the winner late to come up a half-length short. Good Magic was a close fourth. The final time was 1:55.93. Sales History: $500,000 yrl KEESEP ’16. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 5-5-0-0, $2,998,000.

O-WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners. B-John D Gunther (KY). T-Bob Baffert.

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