Sunday, July 15, 2018

Justify and His March to The Triple Crown...The Belmont


                                                            Superhorse!
                                              
                                         Justify Dominates in Triple Crown Sweep





There was never controversy surrounding his brilliance, that question laid quickly to rest in the five previous starts of his meteoric career.  Similarly, the question of his courage had been emphatically answered in the Preakness (G1) three weeks earlier when he dueled with the gallant two year old Eclipse champion Good Magic for 1 1/16th miles before finally putting that one away and then, digging deep, found enough to handily hold the late closers at bay while prevailing in an epic stretch run.  The remaining question, the prevailing topic of concern, surrounded his ability to carry that speed an extra ¼ mile as he faced nine rivals in the final race of the Triple Crown series , the daunting 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes (G1).  Known in racing circles as the “Test of Champions,” this final leg in the journey has proved the stumbling block for many outstanding horses in its now 150 year history, the lengthy list of those falling to defeat including even Hall of Fame horses.

Ann and David Hanley, Winstar GM

Jill and Bob Baffert
Elliot Wladen, Winstar CEO
Justify, exercise rider Humberto Gomez, and assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes
Bob Baffert with Ron Turcotte
On the morning before the Belmont, the grand looking son of Scat Daddy-Stage Magic (Ghostzapper) made a magnificent appearance as he took his final training run on the massive Belmont oval.  Coming down the stretch while showing tremendous energy, the golden morning sun reflected off his bright copper coat, morning shadows revealing fleeting deep chasms across his heavily muscled shoulder and hind quarter.  Indeed, here was the equine version of a magnificent young Muhammed Ali, primed to athletic perfection, confidently shadow boxing as he made final preparation to prove to the world that he was, indeed, “the greatest!”


























The constant murmur of the crowd escalated to a crescendo as the ten horses entered their respective stalls in the starting gate then, as if frozen in time awaiting the springing of the latch, all sound seemed muted as collective breath seemed held in anticipation of the start.  The ringing of the bell and the springing of the stall doors was met with a deafening roar from the crowd as the combatants exploded from the gate, over five tons of equine royalty, each  seeking the glory of an American Classic while for one, firing from the number one position down on the rail,  a quest for racing immortality!  Here Justify responded instantaneously to jockey Mike Smith’s encouragement leaving the gate, accelerating like a quarter horse and seizing the lead, Smith clearly intent upon taking immediate control of the race and not falling victim to the dictates of others.  Holding a 1 ½ length advantage going into the first turn, after a ½ mile this advantage had extended to 2 lengths.  With Justify running easily down the backstretch  Restoring Hope attempted to move on him to apply pressure but such tactics proved to no avail as Smith simply let out a notch and the fluid moving red colt instantly quickened and lengthened to maintain his comfortable margin.  Restoring Hope was finished soon after one mile, and now pursuit was taken up by the stamina-laden Vino Rosso.  Here again Smith gave slight urging to Justify and this challenge was also quickly rebuffed, Justify again seemingly effortlessly quickening and lengthening stride as needed.  Turning into the stretch with a two length margin, the roar of the crowd was thunderous as all could sense that history was in the making.  Down the stretch the outcome appeared never in doubt, Smith riding confidently, giving near-token intermittent reminders to the grand colt to keep his mind on his task.  The surprising Gronkowski, making his dirt debut, proved his closest challenger as they entered deep stretch but was held at bay with no difficulty.  Inside the 1/16th pole, Smith put his stick away and crossed the wire a relatively easy winner, finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of Gronkowski with a similar margin back to the third place Hofburg.  The final time was 2:28.18, 0.43 seconds faster than older horses had run earlier on the card in the G2 Brooklyn Invitational.































After waiting 37 years for a Triple Crown winner in the form of the grand American Pharoah in 2015, a mere three years later finds him joined in the exclusive pantheon of Triple Crown champions by the gorgeous Justify. The former is a long, lean bay horse of moderate size, exquisite movement and gentle temperament, while the latter a very tall, very flashy colt with Hollywood looks, body-builder physique, equally beautiful movement, and a temperament that, while kind, keeps those around him on the alert.  Both great horses were trained by the immensely gifted Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert.  With this Belmont victory Baffert now becomes the winningest Classic winning trainer in history with 15 wins, this day surpassing D. Wayne Lukas who to date has won 14 such races.  Further, Baffert also becomes only the second trainer in the history of the American Turf to saddle two Triple Crown winners, the other conditioner being “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons who saddled Gallant Fox (1930) and, from that one’s first foal crop of only 18 horses, his son Omaha (1935), both in the colors of Belair Stud.







Justify with his groom, LAlo (Eduardo)


J
Jimmy Barnes, Ass't Trainer


Humberto Gomez, exercise rider for Justify

Justify leaving Test Barn after Belmont victory



G1 Belmont Stakes (Justify) and
G1 The Ogden Phipps (Abel Tasman)...all in a day's work at the Baffert barn!
Bobby Shiflet, Humberto Gomez (exercise rider for Justify), and Willie Koester

Two Triple Crown winners, three years apart, the first coming after an almost four decade hiatus.  Lest one mistakably think that this journey has magically become easier, place that erroneous thought aside.  This challenge is no less daunting now than during those 36 years of frustration when many outstanding horses were foiled, through one of a multitude of fashions, in their attempts to capture this most elusive of all racing prizes.  Savor the wine, luxuriate in the bouquet, and most assuredly cherish the moment.  We may possibly be blessed with another with the coming of the new year but, over the course of time, history has taught that we will witness this crowning achievement every eleven years, sometimes in clusters within a golden decade, commonly with long droughts between drinks of the nectar.   For those who love the horse and horse racing, this is the top of the mountain.  We were blessed to be along for the ride.     

Murray West

Adapted from Article in Bourbon Citizen
6-11-2018

All photos by Murray West




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