Triple Crown Winner Justify Retired From Racing

[Wandering Eyes]

China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm’s Justify (Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper), ‘TDN Rising Star’ and undefeated winner of the 2018 Triple Crown, has been retired from racing and will have stud plans finalized at a future date. The colt retires with a perfect six-for-six record and earnings of $3,798,000.

“Justify had some filling in his ankle, and he is just not responding quick enough for a fall campaign,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure he is perfect. Without 60-90 days, I can’t be definite.”

“He is an incredible horse and we are very disappointed he can’t run again,” said WinStar Farm’s Kenny Troutt. “All things happen for a reason, and we are blessed to have raced him to be the 13th Triple Crown winner in history.”

Justify’s rise to the top of the game came in a remarkably short period of time. The hulking chestnut captured his seven-furlong debut at Santa Anita Feb. 18 and he quickly added a second win in an optional claimer at the Arcadia track Mar. 11. After that, it was on to the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7, where he scored by an emphatic three lengths as a prep for the Kentucky Derby. On the first Saturday in May, Justify attended a fast pace and kept finding, striding home 2 1/2 lengths in front in the Churchill Downs slop. After a hard-fought half-length victory over Bravazo (Awesome Again) in the GI Preakness S. May 19, Justify ran into the record books, becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner with a comfortable 1 3/4-length win in the GI Belmont S. June 9. The Bob Baffert trainee returned to his California base and has been residing at Del Mar in recent weeks. He is scheduled to parade Saturday at Del Mar after the day’s fourth race.

“The timing is bad for another start in 2018, and therefore, we have to retire him,” said WinStar Farm’s Elliott Walden. “Like American Pharoah, we can’t take the risk of running Justify as a four-year-old. We all wanted him to finish his career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but it was not meant to be. As has been reported, there is a possible sale to Coolmore in place, but that won’t be finalized until a later date. We are excited to share him with our fans starting the middle of August after he gets acclimated.”

This story will be updated.

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