I will admit I wasn’t sure he could do it. But it was great to watch! You could tell early that this was his race. He was galloping along at an easy pace on a loose rein. Just wow!
And did y’all see Gronkowski?!?! He was my other pick (Patriots fan), the overhead view of the race showed how perfectly his trip lined up, but impressive nonetheless!!
such natural balance, so beautifully over the back.
I predict 20 - 30 years from now you will see his name in 3Day horse pedigrees
I really admire Mike, and Kenny Troutt, for thanking the Lord for this “earthly” victory on worldwide TV.
I would love to see Justify go on and see what he can do over England’s longer classic race distances. Anybody who can win wire-to-wire in a mile-and-a-half race deserves to face off challengers at two miles, IMO.
He is another big chestnut that deserves the third Big Red nickname.
He had it all his own way, the only horse to even attempt to pressure him was the other Baffert horse and the jockey stood up in the first turn and started swinging on him when he realized he might upset the Apple cart. But in fairness, you can only beat what’s put in front of you, and he did find extra under a hand ride in the stretch. Will be interesting to see how he develops over the rest of the year.
The Europeans don’t even race their top horses over two miles, why should an American horse have to do that?
the horse will never step foot outside of the US, nor should he have to, the rest of the world knows where he lives f they want to take him on, and they have till the end of Oct to do it, because he won’t be racing after that.
This is my favorite Justify moment (photo by Stever Heuertz) His exuberant lead change passing the wire the first time in the Preakness
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Yay as well. I didnt start this - just adding to.
I always thought that maybe, since he’s such a big guy, that maybe his knees wern’t closed when he was two. (Again) our one filly had to have x-rays to determine if hers were closed before they started her in training.
Also, as an aside, in the post parade, there was a pony who had long braids in his mane, with green beads at the end of each braid, a la Bo Derek in 10. Pony had a blaze and a white shadow roll. Haven’t seen that before. Kinda neat looking. And I see that Pom Poms are back.
I expected Justify to do the job. Gronkowsky was the real surprise.
Kudos to Bob.
He is doing something right.
Has there been a trainer to get two triple crown winners?
Let alone two in three years.
Yes, but it’s been a long time! Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons in the 30s had 2 - I think Gallant Fox and Omaha?
I never thought I’d live to actually see a Triple Crown. Now I’ve seen two! Taking nothing away from Justify I think Pharoah will always be my favorite but man…can’t believe it!! So happy!
This is the story of why Justify didn’t race as a two year old according to his owner (the one who represented himself as his owner at the races.) They were able to buy Justify as a yearling at a bargain price (half a million) and eventually sent him to Baffert. Baffert sent him to his second string barn. Finally J’s trainer made Baffert watch him run. It was too late to race him as a two year old. The tv coverage today reported that last February Baffert went to the track office the day of J’s maiden race to make sure the race wasn’t cancelled for lack of interest. The folks there asked him why he cared and Baffert replied, “Because I have a colt entered that I believe could win the Kentucky Derby!” And the rest is history!
I’ve never seen such wonderful rides as those that Mike Smith gave J. The first part of the Belmont he was standing up letting the colt basically lope along. All the commentators warned about starting the horse’s move too soon because of that extra quarter of a mile. Mike crouched down at exactly the right time and showed the horse the whip in rhythm but he didn’t even establish contact with Justify’s mouth. From start to finish he allowed Justify to run his own race and what an amazing race it was! I feel honored to have witnessed it. May God bless Justify and everyone who worked so hard to bring us this thrilling, historic day thanks to this amazing horse. Hooray!
He was so cool. One of the commentators said afterwards “he rode it like it was the fourth race on a Wednesday”. :lol:
CG18 - Me too.
I wish thatAP was avaiable for non racing breeding.
If he passes on his sweet temper that would open up all sorts of sport horse possibilities.
I will confess I wasn’t sure Justify could do it… had Vino Rosso in my back pocket as a “backup” 
Justify and Mike got the race and ride needed for Justify to win. No one pushed the pace early and threats down the stretch were there but not really serious. I think if Gronkowski had gotten seriously close, you woulda seen Mike start scrubbing and getting serious on Justify. I think Justify had enough in the tank to hold off a serious threat.
Watching Mike’s face on the way back to the front stretch was, for me, emotional. To see how much this win meant to him…
When he said post win “this horse was sent from heaven” I started tearing up. How many of us feel that way about our own horses? This was just so wonderful to watch and seemed so easy for them both. Really happy for Mike!
Yes. Gallant Fox and his son Omaha. Only sire-son team (so far) to win the Triple Crown.
OMG!!! What a great picture! You can see all of his muscles and realize just how hard he was working. He’s just attacking it! That would make a great poster - in my room! lol
That was when he jumped the tracks left from the walkover, not from doing a lead change. :rolleyes:
So happy for Mike Smith, and for the horse and his connections.
And the country really could use this happy boost. Nice to have so many come together on something like the Triple Crown.
As for the ride, Mike was based in NY years before he returned to California, so should know “Big Sandy” well enough to realize when to ask him to make his move. And he rides like no other. Especially at his age, I am so impressed with how flat he can lay to a horse’s back. I saw something different at the start of the race than mentioned above. He was as low as you can go, to give the horse as little wind resistance as possible when making the lead.
Although I love Mike Smith, and still will favor his Zenyatta rides as much, I wasn’t a big fan of Justify - not crazy about Baffert, and wasn’t convinced he’d do it yesterday. But things changed after NBCSports replayed the Derby and Preakness early yesterday, and I watched his pre-race attitude. There it was. I’m gonna win this thing. Life is wonderful, and I’m the best horse around.
And I had the day off, and able to watch all of the coverage, and the horse got to me. Again, before the race, the attitude. I also had spent a lot of time trying to handicap who else to look for, and was big on Mott’s horse. But in the post parade, there was no one who was in the same league.
I liked Pharoah enough, but for some reason, like this horse more. Maybe because 2015 was a tough year for me, and this one is better in different ways. And maybe because I think we can use some coming together. Isn’t it like a horse to do that?
I’m working away from home, and miss hanging out with others to watch. But am a fan now, for sure.
Oh, and Barbara Livingston’s photo of Justify’s “leap” is even better.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Jumpin-JUST…-/362332975826
Yay, indeed!! :congratulatory:
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