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SPORTS Monday 11 June 2018

Owners: Triple Crown winner Justify will race again

By BETH HARRIS move. on Saturday by 1¾ lengths
AP Racing Writer Among the possibilities: the over 24-1 shot Gronkowski
NEW YORK (AP) — Triple $1 million Haskell Invitational after winning the Kentucky
Crown winner Justify will on July 29 at New Jersey's Derby by 2½ lengths and
get a well-deserved break Monmouth Park, the $1 the Preakness by a half-
and then race again this million Pacific Classic at length. Justify became the
year, although no date or Del Mar on Aug. 18 and first colt in 136 years to win
location has been targeted the $1.25 million Travers at the Derby after not racing
yet after the colt came out Saratoga on Aug. 25. as a 2-year-old.
of his Belmont Stakes victory Baffert can expect to hear "He ran a large number of
in good condition. from officials at several races in a short amount
Elliott Walden of WinStar tracks eager to lure racing's of time with no 2-year-
Farm said Sunday the multi- newest superstar, much old foundation," said
owner group that controls like he did with American Chad Brown, who trains
Justify wants to share the Pharaoh. Gronkowski. "This horse
horse with the public by Chris Kay, president of overcame a lot. He was
racing him. A plan will the New York Racing managed so well by
be formulated once the Association, joked that Bob and his staff. He's a
chestnut colt recovers from he would "hold Bode remarkable horse to run in
a compressed schedule hostage until they make all three legs as well as he
that saw him win six races the decision," referring to did."
over 111 days since his Baffert's 13-year-old son. Wearing a white blanket
debut on Feb. 18. "We hope this entire group advertising his status as the
"Our focus was on each will be assembled again in sport's 13th Triple Crown
race as they came up," late August in Saratoga," winner, Justify walked laps
Walden said after unveiling Kay said. inside the barn before
Justify's Triple Crown banner Baffert took American coming outside to greet Justify (1), with jockey Mike Smith up, breaks out of the starting
inside Belmont Park. "Now Pharoah to Saratoga in a slew of cameras. He gate during the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race,
we can take a deep breath August 2015 and the Triple pricked his ears at the Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y.
and just see how the horse Crown winner was upset by sound of the shutter clicks Associated Press
is." Keen Ice in the Travers. and when Baffert led him
Justify is set to return to "Everybody thinks I'm so closer, he playfully bit at people screaming at their the colt was due for a
Churchill Downs in Louisville, opposed to Saratoga," he one camera. TV wanting to see it done. loss because of his rushed
Kentucky, on Monday. said. "I'm not. I've had really "Pharoah made so many People love history being schedule and close result in
Next Saturday, Justify's good luck there." people feel good," Baffert made in sports." the Preakness.
owners along with trainer The season-ending said. "This horse, I'm sure Justify's victory silenced "Opinions die," Baffert said.
Bob Baffert and jockey Breeders' Cup world there was millions of the skeptics who believed "Facts live forever."q
Mike Smith will receive their championships are in
engraved Kentucky Derby Louisville on Nov. 2-3.
trophies at Churchill. It's "It's been the longest,
possible Justify could be quickest journey," a hoarse-
paraded at the track like sounding Baffert said as
American Pharoah after light rain fell outside Justify's
he won the Triple Crown for barn. "We were in the
Baffert in 2015. office watching the replay
"Today he looked fantastic," over and over. He's just an
Baffert said. "After a week, unbelievable horse. We're
it starts catching up with just so proud of him. We
them." thought he was that kind
On June 17, Justify will travel of horse but they have to
to Baffert's base in Southern prove it."
California to await his next Justify won the Belmont