By Jarrod Horak
This is my fourth article in my five-part Breeders’ Cup sires series. So far, I have covered 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Curlin, 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Good Magic, and 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner, and next up is Triple Crown 2018 hero Justify.
Early Race Record
Justify (Scat Daddy – Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) burst onto the scene with a sensational extended sprint maiden romp at Santa Anita Park as the 1-2 favorite on February 18, 2018. He returned three weeks later and ran off the screen as the overwhelming betting choice in a flat mile allowance race. Bob Baffert’s very promising colt would make his stakes debut about a month later in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, and he set the pace as the chalk and kicked away from multiple graded winner Bolt d’Oro.
Triple Crown Series 2018
The 2018 Kentucky Derby was run on a sloppy, sealed surface, but that did not matter to Justify. He battled with Promises Fulfilled through a quarter in 22.24, a half in 45.77, and six panels in 1:11.01. Promises Fulfilled threw in the towel, and Justify was clear after a mile in 1:37.35. Mike Smith was loving life aboard the Derby favorite, and he remained clear and crossed the line 2 1/2 lengths in front of Good Magic.
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