Justify Wires Belmont to Become 13th Triple Crown Winner

[Wandering Eyes]

JUSTIFY (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) put an exclamation point on his meteoric rise to the top of the game with a wire-to-wire victory in the GI Belmont S., becoming the 13th winner of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Sent to the front and able to clear a brief scramble for the lead, Justify set up shop through a measured six furlongs in 1:13.21 with stablemate Restoring Hope (Giant’s Causeway) acting as a buffer of sorts on his outside flank, keeping Bravazo (Awesome Again) hemmed in along the rail. Justify settled into a good rhythm and turned back a brief early bid from Vino Rosso (Curlin) on the turn. Turning for home with a date with immortality awaiting him in the winner’s circle, Justify bounded home with Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) giving belated chase to the wire. Justify reported home two lengths in front of that rival, with Hofburg (Tapit) rounding out the trifecta. The final time for 1 1/2 miles was 2:28 and change. Justify began his career in mid February, capturing a maiden race at Santa Anita before adding an allowance event at that venue a week shy of one month later. From there, he reeled off consecutive Grade I wins in the Apr. 7 Santa Anita Derby, May 5 Kentucky Derby and May 19 Preakness S. Sales History: $500,000 yrl KEESEP ’16.

O-WinStar & CHC & Starlight & Head of Plains Partners. B-John D. Gunther (KY). T-Bob Baffert.

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