JUSTIFY won the 150th Belmont Stakes on Saturday to become just the 13th horse to capture US flat-racing’s Triple Crown.
By adding the Belmont to his Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes victories, Justify made Bob Baffert just the second trainer to saddle two Triple Crown winners.
With his frontrunning win, Justify became thoroughbred racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner.
Three years ago American Pharoah had ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought with his win in 2015.
It was the second Triple Crown for trainer Baffert and the first for jockey Mike Smith. Gronkowski finished second in the 2400m race.
Hofburg was third in the thrilling race which saw Justify challenged at the top of the straight in front of 90,000 screaming fans.
Justify, ridden Mike Smith, leads the field at the end of the back straight at Belmont Park. Pic: APSource:AP
Justify becomes an immortal. Pic: APSource:AP
Originally published as Justify an ‘immortal’ after Triple Crown win
Comments
Breaking news here about an hour ago 6am AWST 26 July. ( 6pm NY). Justify has a swollen ankle problem, not responding to treatment. The horse has been retired from racing and will probably x20 times his income ($4m to $75m) from stud breeding business.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jul/25/justify-retires-triple-crown-winner-bob-baffer
Denis