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curious

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A gallop is no more than half-pace.

And the breeze was a half mile. They time the furlong after the hands are dropped at the line there. He ran that next furlong in just under 13 seconds. I'd say he's history.

Edited by curious
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15 hours ago, curious said:

A gallop is no more than half-pace.

And the breeze was a half mile. They time the furlong after the hands are dropped at the line there. He ran that next furlong in just under 13 seconds. I'd say he's history.

It certainly doesn't look like an antipodean approach....nor,  for that matter, a UK one....but hey,  Baffert has the x-factor apparently.

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Belmont Stakes odds, contenders, lineup 2018: Horse racing legend makes picks for Justify Triple Crown bid

Hank Goldberg called the upset of Smarty Jones at the 2004 Belmont

  • by CBS Sports Staff
  • 2h ago • 3 min read

The 2018 Belmont Stakes will be held Saturday, June 9 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Justify, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, is the favorite in the latest Belmont Stakes odds at 4-5 as he looks to become just the second horse since 1978 to win horse racing's Triple Crown. Hofburg, going off at 4-1, and Bravazo, a horse getting 8-1 odds, are the top challengers in this historic race.

Before you make any kind of bet or pick on the 2018 Belmont, you need to see what horse racing legend Hammerin' Hank Goldberg has to say. In 2004, if you had put down $300 on his Belmont Stakes picks, you would have cashed for $21,000.

The reason Goldberg has been so successful: He goes straight to the source. In 2004, he was all over Birdstone as a 36-1 monster long shot to win the Belmont Stakes over the heavily favored Smarty Jones, who was undefeated like Justify. Goldberg had dinner with Birdstone's trainer, Nick Zito, before the Belmont Stakes at a pizzeria in Queens.

"Nick told me Birdstone had been training great," Goldberg said. "He was training off the charts and Nick said the horse would love the Belmont because he had the running style that fit well with the track." The Hammer pounced on the long shot to win and put him on top of his exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets.

Birdstone, of course, beat Smarty Jones by one length in one of the most thrilling Triple Crown races ever. Royal Assault -- almost a 30-1 long shot on the Belmont Stakes odds board and also trained by Zito -- finished third, giving the Hammer and his followers monster payouts. Now, he's gearing up for the 2018 Belmont Stakes.

 

A legendary prognosticator and current CBS Sports expert, Goldberg couldn't have been more dead-on about the 2018 Kentucky Derby. He picked Justify to win, saying he excelled in the slop. The result: Justify sloshed to victory over Good Magic in the rain and mud by two-and-a-half lengths.

Then, he called Justify repeating at the Preakness despite an injured heel and sloppy conditions -- which is exactly what happened. He also cashed the Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 at Pimlico this year.

Now that the 2018 Belmont Stakes lineup is taking shape, Goldberg released his early picks, predictions and exotic bets over at SportsLine.

We can tell you Goldberg thinks Justify will be a tired horse as he pursues horse racing's Triple Crown as the Belmont Stakes favorite.

 

"The Preakness took a lot out of Justify," Goldberg told SportsLine. "He was never pushed like he was in that race. His first race was Feb. 18 and he's going to have considerable competition in the Belmont Stakes, much more than he faced in the Preakness." Goldberg is sharing his projected finish position for Justify over at SportsLine.

A contender he's impressed with: Hofburg, a horse going off at 4-1 in the updated 2018 Belmont Stakes odds. 

"Trained by Billy Mott, he's a really good horse," Goldberg told SportsLine. "I thought he'd run well in the Kentucky Derby. He was a wise-guy horse in the Derby. Mott was eyeing him for the Belmont Stakes and he's been training for that. He has the edge in distance. Mott will have this horse ready."

Goldberg is also eyeing a long shot who has a big edge in distance, which is exactly what's needed in the Belmont Stakes 2018. He's sharing which horse it is, and his predictions for every Belmont Stakes contender, over at SportsLine.

Justify (4-5)
Hofburg (4-1)
Bravazo (8-1) 
Vino Rosso (9-1)  
Tenfold (10-1)   
Blended Citizen (14-1)
Noble Indy (33-1)  
Free Drop Billy (50-1) 
Gronkowski (69-1)

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18 hours ago, curious said:

A gallop is no more than half-pace.

And the breeze was a half mile. They time the furlong after the hands are dropped at the line there. He ran that next furlong in just under 13 seconds. I'd say he's history.

 

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2 hours ago, Freda said:

It certainly doesn't look like an antipodean approach....nor,  for that matter, a UK one....but hey,  Baffert has the x-factor apparently.

Yeahh.... I wouldn't second guess Baffert ...lol. You wouldn't mind having to feed the bugger either eh Freda?

Wouldn't mind feeding the work rider with those hands either.

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Hofburg in from 7/1

Gronkowski from 69/1

in Vegas.

 

Justify 4-5
Hofburg 4-1
Bravazo 7-1
Vino Rosso 8-1                      
Tenfold 10-1                              
Blended Citizen 14-1                
Gronkowski 25-1                       
Noble Indy 33-1                        
Free Drop Billy 50-1      

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Justify Smooth and Easy in Final Pre-Belmont Work

Son of Scat Daddy ran five furlongs in preparation for final leg of Triple Crown.

Sponsored By darbydan_021015_170x30.png

Bob Baffert has reached a point in this five-week journey through the American classics where he's out of new material as far as Justify is concerned.

The Hall of Fame trainer has stated in every way possible what an exceptional animal the chestnut son of Scat Daddy is. And each time the conditioner finds the right adjectives to describe what the unbeaten dual classic winner has accomplished in his meteoric five-race career, the big chestnut runner backs him up by behaving every bit like the wondrous athlete he has been deemed.

As Justify stepped onto the Churchill Downs oval June 4 for his last major piece of work in advance of his Triple Crown try in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1), it was more of the same from him and his camp. After watching the colt cruise through a five-furlong breeze in 1:01 2/5 that was as easy as he pleased, Baffert reiterated how spoiled he was to have a horse whose actions could deliver the most definitive statements.

"(Jockey) Martin (Garcia) said he didn't even take a deep breath," Baffert said of the work. "All seems good."

After dropping jaws with his sizzling four-furlong work in :46 4/5 at Churchill May 29, Justify put in a steadier effort June 4, but one that still featured his trademark ease. After breaking off solo at the half-mile pole, Justify was well in hand while registering splits of :12 4/5, :24 4/5, :37, and :48 4/5 and put in a big gallop out to six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 and seven furlongs in 1:27 1/5.

"He went a little quick last time so I wanted to go three quarters with him," said Baffert, who arrived in Louisville the evening before to oversee Justify's final pre-Belmont work. "Just kept him in hand the whole way and let him gallop out seven-eighths. He went smooth and he relaxed nice. Last time he was a little bit fresh, I think, and really wanted to do a little bit more. But Martin was happy with him."

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‘Rock Star’ Justify Posts Final Breeze For Belmont

SPONSORED BY:

by Paulick Report Staff | 06.04.2018 | 8:37am

 
 
Justify_June-4-2018-breeze-Martin-Garcia
Justify breezing five furlongs in preparation for the Belmont Stakes
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Following the successful training pattern used three years ago for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Justify out for his final breeze on Monday morning in preparation for the June 9 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park

Under Martin Garcia (who also worked American Pharoah in his final breezes before the Belmont), Justify worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Churchill Downs on a fast racetrack, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.60 and seven furlongs in 1:27.20. Internal splits were :12.80, :24.80, :37.00 and :48.80.

“It was a really nice breeze and exactly what we were looking for,” Baffert said. “He relaxed nicely and seemed very happy. Martin was very happy with him as well so I was happy, too. He was a little fresh earlier in the week so it was good to see him relax nicely.”

American Pharoah also worked five furlongs on the Monday before the Belmont, going in 1:00.20 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.

“He's become a rock star like Pharoah,” Baffert said. “Let's see if he can do it.”

Justify, who will attempt to become horse racing's 13th Triple Crown winner, is expected to ship to Belmont Park on Wednesday.lg.php?bannerid=6707&campaignid=281&zone

Owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners, Justify enters the mile and a half Belmont unbeaten in five career starts. He made his racing debut at Santa Anita on Feb. 18, winning a maiden race by 9 ½ lengths, took a March 11 allowance contest by 6 ½ lengths, then won three consecutive Grade 1 races: the Santa Anita Derby by three lengths, the Kentucky Derby by 2 ½ lengths and the Preakness by a half-length.

Mike Smith will be aboard Justify in the Belmont.

“Mike, just like any other rider, has to have the horse underneath him to succeed,” Baffert said. “A good rider's job is to keep the horse out of trouble and make split-second decisions if he needs to. Really the biggest part of the race is breaking cleanly from the gate. With Pharoah, he broke about one length slower than the field. It could've been a bad situation but he got into a good position early. After the gate break, you just have to see how the race plays out.”

Justify will face as many as 10 foes, including Preakness runner-up Bravazo. Post positions will be drawn for the Belmont Stakes on Tuesday at Citi Field in New York, where Baffert will throw out the first pitch before a New York Mets-Baltimore Orioles baseball game.

In other Belmont Stakes news from Churchill Downs, Preakness runner-up Bravazo left trainer D. Wayne Lukas' Barn 44 early Monday morning via van to New York while Preakness third, Tenfold, jogged one mile following his five-furlong breeze in 1:01.60 Saturday at Churchill Downs. Breeders' Futurity winner Free Drop Billy walked trainer Dale Romans' Barn 4 shedrow following his five-furlong move in :59.20 Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Tenfold is scheduled to fly to New York on Tuesday and leave Churchill Downs at approximately 10:30 a.m. while Free Drop Billy is scheduled to join Justify and Restoring Hope on Wednesday's flight.

The Belmont Stakes field could possibly be comprised of the following 11 horses (with trainer): Blended Citizen (Doug O'Neill), Bravazo (Lukas), Free Drop Billy (Romans), Gronkowski (Chad Brown), Hofburg (Bill Mott), Justify (Baffert), Noble Indy (Todd Pletcher), Restoring Hope (Baffert), Seahenge (Aidan O'Brien), Tenfold (Steve Asmussen) and Vino Rosso (Pletcher).

Immediately following Justify's work, stablemate and fellow Belmont Stakes contender, Wood Memorial (GII) third Restoring Hope, breezed six furlongs in 1:13 under jockey Florent Geroux (splits: :12.60, :24.40, :36.20, :48.40 and 1:00.20 with a gallop out of 1:26.40).

“Restoring Hope went really well,” Baffert said. “He's always been a really good work horse. He's sort of a one-paced horse. He went a little faster than Justify but I thought overall the work was very good.”

 

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