Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Triple Crowning achievement
ELMONT, N.Y. – On Feb. 18, Justify made his first start. On June 9, he made his sixth. The number of days that encompasses is 111. In other words, won, won, won.
He won the Kentucky Derby. He won the Preakness. And, before an appreciative crowd at Belmont Park, Justify led every step of the 150th Belmont Stakes, becoming the 13th horse to sweep the Triple Crown, the second this decade, the second to do so while undefeated, but the first to do so without ever having raced at age 2.
Justify now will have his name on a list that includes Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, and American Pharoah. After a drought of 37 years between Affirmed in 1978 and American Pharoah in 2015, the Triple Crown has now been won twice, just three years apart.
What American Pharoah and Justify have in common is that both are trained by Bob Baffert, who became the second person – following Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons more than 80 years ago – to train two Triple Crown winners.
Baffert months ago had telegraphed the unique talent he believed Justify possessed. On the morning of his first start, after training wound down at Santa Anita, he said, “I’ve got big plans for that colt.”
Less than four months later, Justify was draped in carnations in the winner’s circle at Belmont Park, having won the Triple Crown, a remarkable achievement for a horse who, with his late start, had to play catch-up. But talent trumped experience.
“I wanted to see that horse’s name up there,” Baffert said. “He’s been brilliant from Day 1.”
Baffert said he thought Justify could emulate American Pharoah because “he was showing me all the signs.”
“He’s a superior horse,” said Baffert, adding that winning a second Triple Crown “feels pretty good.”
Justify was ridden by Mike Smith, a Hall of Fame jockey who won the Triple Crown for the first time and, at age 52, became the oldest jockey to sweep the series.
“He’s so gifted. He’s sent from heaven,” said Smith, a devoutly religious person who always begins his post-race interviews by citing his faith.
“To win six races in this time, he’s an unbelievable horse,” Smith said.
Both Baffert and Smith were emotional after the race, Baffert even more so. He said he “had a lot of help from upstairs,” a reference not only to his late parents but also to his close friend Brad McKinzie, an executive at Los Alamitos who died last year and whose namesake colt Baffert thought earlier this year might be his best Triple Crown hope.
But after the colt McKinzie went to the sidelines in late March, Justify continued his rapid ascent, winning the Santa Anita Derby in his third start and then all three Triple Crown races.
“He’s just a magnificent animal,” said Baffert, who called Justify “one of those alltime great horses.”
Justify ($3.60) was favored, as he has been in all his starts. He exuded confidence before the race, never becoming rattled by the unfamiliar paddock nor the crush of people watching his every move.
There were few instructions from Baffert.
“The gas tank’s full. Don’t use it all at once,” Baffert told Smith.
Justify started from the rail, with nine rivals lined up to his outside. Because of his draw, he was the first loaded into the gate, and Smith was intent on leaving alertly for a race that starts in front of the grandstand and encompasses one lap around Belmont Park’s main track.
“The whole time, he was so professional,” Smith said. “The crowd was