Eight Fast Facts About Triple Crown Hopeful Justify

May 31st, 2018 by Christina Moore

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Justify and trainer Bob Baffert at Pimlico prior to his win in the Preakness Stakes. (Eclipse Sportswire)

For the last few weeks, all eyes have been focused on Justify, the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve who added a Preakness Stakes win to his tally two weeks ago. He races for the Triple Crown in the June 9 Belmont Stakes, but before he does, get to know him with the fun facts below.

1. Justify has never lost a race. He began his career in February of this year and has since reeled off five straight wins, including the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness.

2. His parents were both good racehorses: His dad (sire) Scat Daddy won the 2007 Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth Stakes. His mom (dam) Stage Magic finished third in the 2011 Gardenia Stakes and earned more than $133,000 in her career.

3. Justify’s older half-brother (same mom, different dad) The Lieutenant won his first graded stakes race on Memorial Day. Maybe he was feeling inadequate with his little brother making all the headlines.

Justify trains for the Belmont at Churchill Downs. (Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Justify is the fifth horse trained by Bob Baffert who has won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. American Pharoah is the only one (so far) who has also won the Belmont and thus the Triple Crown.

5. WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners all co-own the horse. That is an impressive group that includes telecommunications magnate Kenny Troutt (WinStar), architect and entrepreneur Teo Ah Khing (China Horse Club), racehorse partnership organizer Jack Wolf (Starlight), and hedge fund founder/CEO Sol Kumin (Head of Plains).

6. Justify tips the scales at around 1,270 pounds and stands 16.3 hands (67 inches) at the shoulder. He’s big and athletic. So much so that Baffert has compared him to NBA superstar LeBron James.

7. He was born on March 28, 2015, in Woodford County, Ky., but like all U.S. Thoroughbreds born in 2015 he was considered a 3-year-old as of Jan. 1 this year.

8. Justify was bought as a yearling (1-year-old) for $500,000 at Keeneland, a racetrack that’s also a leading racehorse auction house. That purchase price is dwarfed by his career earnings, which total $2,998,000 to date, and his stud value which continues to increase.

Bonus fact: Justify's favorite treat is carrots! He loves the peeled baby variety. But don't get too close to him in his stall- he's known to be a bit bold and aggressive.

En las últimas semanas, todas las miradas están enfocadas en Justify, el ganador del Kentucky Derby Presentado por Woodford Reserve quien añadió el Preakness Stakes a su cuenta ganadora hace dos semanas. Corre por la Triple Corona este 9 de Junio en el Belmont Stakes, pero antes de que lo haga, conozcámoslo más con los datos curiosos que les traemos abajo.

1. Justify nunca ha perdido una carrera. Comenzó su campaña en Febrero de este año y desde ahí ha encadenado cinco triunfos al hilo, incluido el Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, y Preakness.

2. Sus padres han sido ambos buenos caballos de carrera: Su padre (padrillo) Scat Daddy ganó el 2007 Florida Derby y el Fountain of Youth Stakes. Su madre (dama) Stage Magic finalizó tercera en el 2011 Gardenia Stakes y acumuló en premios más de $133,000 en su campaña.

3. El medio-hermano mayor de Justify (misma dama, diferente padrillo) The Lieutenant ganó su primer clásico de grado en el Memorial Day. Tal vez se esté sintiendo algo incómodo con su hermanito menor ganando todos los titulares.

Justify trains for the Belmont at Churchill Downs. (Eclipse Sportswire)

4. Justify es el quinto ejemplar entrenado por Bob Baffert que ha ganado el Kentucky Derby y el Preakness Stakes. American Pharoah es el único de ellos (hasta ahora) que también ha ganado el Belmont y por tanto la Triple Corona.

5. WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, y Head of Plains Partners son todos ellos co-propietarios del caballo. Es ese un grupo impresionante que incluye al magnate de las telecomunicaciones Kenny Troutt (WinStar), el arquitecto y empresario Teo Ah Khing (China Horse Club), el promotor de sociedades hípicas Jack Wolf (Starlight), y el fundador de fondos de cobertura/CEO Sol Kumin (Head of Plains).

6. Justify pesa en la balanza alrededor de 1,270 libras y tiene una alzada de 16.3 manos (67 pulgadas) a la altura de hombro. Es grande y atlético. Tanto así que Baffert lo ha comparado con la súper estrella de la NBA superstar LeBron James.

7. Ha nacido el 28 de Marzo de 2015, en Woodford County, Kentucky, pero al igual que todos los Purasangres nacidos en U.S. en 2015, él fue considerado como 3-años-de edad desde el 1ro de Enero de este año.

8. Justify fue adquirido como yearling (1-año-de edad) por $500,000 en Keeneland, un hipódromo que es también considerado como el hogar líder de subastas de caballos de carrera. Esa compra ha quedado empequeñecida por sus sumas ganadas, las cuales a la fecha totalizan $2,998,000, y por su valor posterior como semental que continúa en ascenso.

Hecho Adicional: ¡El placer favorito de Justify son las zanahorias! Le encanta la variedad pelada bebé. Pero no se le acerquen mucho en su celda de caballeriza, es conocido por ser un poquito enérgico y agresivo.