Dont get me wrong I’m VERY happy that Justify won yesterday. I was screaming at my TV yesterday lol.
but for some reason this Triple Crown feels different then American Pharoahs (my first time seeing a Triple!) I don’t get the same feeling of magic and utter thrill that I did with Pharoah. It’s kind of a downer because I want to have that same feeling with Justify. Anyone else feel this way?
Not me! I’m glad AP was not a fluke.
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AP ended a drought. The first rain after a drought always feels sweeter. But it doesn’t make the next rain any less desirable.
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I was young, but I saw Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed.
I broke-down crying with AP, because all my momma wanted to see before she died (2008) was another TC winner.
I felt like I was ‘channeling her’ or something when I watched him win.
That’s a beautiful way to put it.
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Countrygirl, I feel the same way. I did not watch the race live yesterday but when I saw the video of it, I ended up keeping my eyes on Gronkowski the entire time. I replayed it and the same thing happened, I didnt even “see” Justify. I am happy that Justify won but I guess my heart belongs to Gronk.
I feel a bit the same way, OP but I think a couple other posts explained it well Somehow I felt that he would win, and there was something about the race that did not seem totally like a race. Justify never seemed really threatened so there wasn’t that excitement, but he also didn’t win pulling away so there wasn’t that excitement either. I think ee is a special horse - I get the temptation to say “retire now, and dont risk him” but I’m also sad that the good stallions have relatively short careers. Easier to get excited and attached to the mares who may well race thru 4-5 year old careers.
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I hear you. He’s a lovely horse, I’m a sucker for chestnuts. I thought a wire to wire Belmont was impressive, especially after he looked so tired at the end of the Preakness. But I didn’t really feel the excitement. And maybe it is because the drought is over. I remember being really excited for California Chrome and AP.
I wanted this TC more for Mike Smith though. He put in his time, he earned it.
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Yes, I know what you mean. I expected Justify to take the Belmont, but what I was looking for, from him especially, was that running away from the pack like Secretariat. I know that’s a lot to ask but I was looking for it during the stretch run, and Mike Smith only asked him for just what he needed, like he really believes a nose is just as good as a length. But for a horse like Justify in my mind, he needs to show us a little more. The problem was nobody asked him for it so, he didn’t give it.
We still don’t know what that horse can really do.
Bolding mine…
What exactly do you mean “a horse like Justify” & what more did you want him to show you? A win is a win… There was absolutely NO reason for Mike to push Justify for more than what was needed to win. It’s not the horses fault no one else could come up & offer a challenge. SMH
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Interesting, I didn’t get too excited with AP, but I have been following Justify like mad and cried the whole race LOL Maybe we just have horses that seem more “ours”
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What more do you expect him to do? He beat everyone who showed up, on mud and on a fast track and in heavy fog. He ran head to head almost the entire way in the Preakness and when he put that horse away and another challenged him he found another gear, that showed his grit and determination to win. And in the Belmont he wasn’t even seriously challenged, he won at a mile and half pretty easily. He did more in four months than most TBs do in a lifetime. As far as I am concerned he could be retired now, although I hope the owners let him finish the season before he retires.
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I agree. I think part of the allure of AP for me was the entire story about it. Zayat isn’t everyone’s favorite person but the guy bred the horse, raised him, and raced him himself. In a world where everyone goes to the sale a drops half a Mil or 1 mil on a yearling; Zayat earned it the traditional, old school way. In addition to that, The Zayat team shared the horse with everyone. I understand Justify is not as quiet as AP but AP captured the hearts of everyone who met him. Literally; what other racehorse have you seen hoards of reporters and fans be permitted to crowd around him, hug him, hold him for pictures, pet him, etc. His calm demeanor made everyone fall in love with him. The entire Zayat family was in the ride of a lifetime with their horse whom they also bred the sire.
In addition to the way he ran: full of heart; ears pricked most of the way around the track, his kick at the top of the stretch. For me; he is my generations Secretariat. His story was a bittersweet one.
Bob has mentioned that he feels similar with AP. AP was his “first love”. Bob was a very emotional man around AP and still is. AP was just an all-around special horse.
Justify; I love him also. But for me; he’s a horse someone else dumped mega cash on at a sale. NOT ONCE have I read an article in the last 4 months acknowledging and thanking John D Gunther for breeding this tremendous specimen (who also bred Justify’s Dam and still owns her!). Respect to Winstar, Starlight, China Horse Club, etc for investing in the horse; but for me; they are nothing more than investors. Winstar has always left a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth. China horse Club just invests in the $$ horses; they are nothing more than stock market people. For me; I am more happy for the barn connections of Justify. HIs groom, exercise riders, Jimmy Barnes, Bob, Mike Smith The people who literally put in the blood, sweat and tears everyday to make sure the horse is on the money and to keep him happy.
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Huh that is interesting!
I’m pretty emotionally invested in both, actually! Now, I did have that feeling of joyous relief with AP that I got to see another TC; I was really wondering if I would, though I’m not exactly ancient – it had been SO long. But Justify does capture my heart, too, definitely.
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I think you have really good observations. I know the Zayats are not the old money breeders but they were really a fun family to watch. They added a lot of the people story to Pharoah. And real horse lovers, remember Paynter?
The first Triple after so long had to be special, too. It’s sort of crazy there has been another one so soon but you never know when a great horse will come along and have luck. Mastery might have done it but he was injured. I think Barbaro might have been great except for that awful tragedy.
I got the impression that Baffert talking about “Team Justify” was spreading the public attention and applause to others than himself and I respect him for that gesture. I respect Mike Smith but I enjoyed Victor Espinoza’s more spontaneous joy at winning. That great “Holy shit” to Donna Brothers still makes me smile.
it’s sure a “first world problem” to have!!!
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I guess I’m fortunate in that I have seen all the 1970s-forward TCs. Now, I was alive when Citation did it in 1948, and probably prattling about horsies, but since I was only three, I doubt I read about it in the papers or grasped its significance. I do know that I WANTED!!! the lovely Richard Stone Reeves painting of Citation, but that was well beyond my parents financial abilities. LOL
I agree that the Justify win wasn’t at compelling as Pharoah’s. It was all business. Great horse, another Big Red type, but the passion wasn’t there. Also he has a lameness issue (was hobbling after Derby, hind leg was bothering him) and only won by a nostril to Bravazo in the Preakness. He looked off again when being led out of the saddling enclosure before the Belmont (did anyone else notice the head bob?) I prefer California Chrome. He was given a bad ride in the Belmont and should have won the TC. Proved himself afterwards, though.
I felt magic!
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Didn’t see him coming out of the saddling enclosure but if he was head bobbing lame, I doubt he would have made to to the gate (at least IMO). Too much too lose to put any lame horse in the gate of a high visibility televised race…
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