Justify made history on Saturday by capturing the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes, finishing off the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, just the second thoroughbred in 40 years to do so.
Justify wins 2018 Triple Crown with Belmont Stakes victory
13th Triple Crown winner in history
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Justify was the overwhelming favorite at 3/5 odds to win at Belmont Park, and held off Gronkowski and Hofburg in the 1½-mile race for the win. Justify improved to 6-0 with the win, the fewest races ever for a Triple Crown winner.
The win earned Justify $800,000 of the Belmont’s $1.5 million purse.
This is the third career Belmont Stakes win for trainer Bob Baffert, who also trained Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015. Baffert is the second trainer to win two Triple Crowns, along with Jim Fitzsimmons, who trained Gallant Fox in 1930 and Omaha in 1935.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way he looks,” Baffert said of Justify on Friday, per the Associated Press. “He looks no different than the way American Pharoah did coming in here.”
Saturday also marked the third career win for jockey Mike Smith, also sitting atop Drosselmeyer in 2010 and Palace Malice in 2013. At 52, Smith is the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown.
Justify becomes the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown.
Triple Crown winners
Year | Horse | Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande |
| 1935 | Omaha | Willie Saunders |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith |
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