Justify Unbeatable, Becomes 13th Triple Crown Winner

Close to sixteen weeks ago, Justify had just started his racing career by winning a seven-furlong maiden special weight race in Santa Anita. On Saturday, he became the 13th horse to achieve the most difficult feat in horse racing, winning the Triple Crown.

With Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard, the Scat Daddy colt quickly took the lead after breaking from the rail position. He led the pack wire-to-wire, ultimately winning by a comfortable one and three-quarter lengths in the third and longest leg of the Triple Crown, the $1,500,000 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, known to be the test of a true champion.

Justify, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, remains undefeated and has now won six races in a row since his career debut on February 18 at Santa Anita. He will return to Churchill Downs to rest for about a week before his connections decide where to race him next.

Baffert is no stranger to winning prestigious Triple Crown races, having trained American Pharoah, winner of the Triple Crown in 2015. He now joins Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons as one of only two trainers in history to have trained more than one Triple Crown winner, and he also officially has the most victories in Triple Crown races, with Justify counting as his 15th victory.

“It’s amazing. It never gets old. American Pharoah, he’ll always be my first love. Justify was showing the same signs; he showed me that same brilliance. Superior horse,” Baffert said in a press conference following the victory. “I mean, he could have won every race on the undercard today. He’s just that kind of horse.”

Baffert added, “We had him ready, but that horse, it was just—just to train a horse like that, he’s just a magnificent animal. I’m just glad that I got a chance to train a horse like that.”

Baffert relies on KER Race Recovery™ to help Justify and other horses in his stable recover quickly after racing. Race Recovery is designed for horses given furosemide (Lasix®) to strategically replenish electrolytes at critical times following exercise, stimulating thirst and replacing body weight quickly. Learn more about this research-proven product. Justify is also fed Hallway Feeds, a KER Balance Partner.

“The Triple Crown is all about recovery to turn in three world-class performances,” explained Baffert. “With Race Recovery, I know my winning horses have the best nutritional support to bounce back and win again.”

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