Justify certified his place in racing immortality when he won 150th Belmont S. (G1), defeating Gronkowski by nearly to length to become the 13th winner of the historic Triple Crown.
Like he did in both his Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) wins, Justify found his way to the front soon after the start of the Belmont and never looked back, turning away every challenge to take the “Test of the Champion” by nearly two lengths.
“This horse ran a tremendous race. He’s so gifted,” said Justify’s jockey Mike Smith, who looked to the sky to celebrate after his ride. “He’s sent from heaven. I tell you, it’s just amazing. I can’t describe the emotions going through my body right now.”
Justify cemented his place in racing history for WinStar Farm, who owns the colt along with China Horse Club (whose silks the colt wore on in the Belmont), Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners. The son of Scat Daddy joins Seattle Slew as one of only two colts as undefeated winners of the Triple Crown.
“To have the opportunity to be here and to make history like this is an incredible feeling,” said Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm. “These horses just; you buy them or whatever, but a horse like this just kind of happens. You can’t find these horses. They find you.”
