Triple Crown profile: Justify

The Kentucky Derby has been postponed until September, but Churchill Downs will still celebrate the first Saturday in May with a nationwide virtual "Kentucky Derby at Home" party. This special, day-long event will aim to raise $2 million for COVID-19 emergency relief efforts and will feature a thrilling simulated race that includes the 13 Triple Crown winners.

To get you ready for the virtual race, BetAmerica is publishing a profile on each Triple Crown winner leading up to the big day. Get ready to travel back in time to some of the greatest moments in Thoroughbred racing history.

Justify (2018)

Owners: China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Jockey: Mike Smith

Before the Derby

Justify's reign over the horse racing world was like a comet whizzing past Earth. He shined bright and was fascinating to watch, but as quickly as he arrived, his brilliance didn't last.

No horse had won the Kentucky Derby (G1) after going unraced as a 2-year-old since 1882, when another chestnut, Apollo, was victorious at Churchill Downs.

Justify's racing career didn't start until Feb. 18 of his 3-year-old season, when he overpowered a short, overmatched field of maidens at Santa Anita.

Trainer Bob Baffert needed to race Justify into shape, so he found another short, soft field at Santa Anita, this time at the allowance level, March 11. The colt cruised to an easy, 6 1/2-length victory in his first start around two turns, which set up an all-or-nothing shot in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

If Justify won the Santa Anita Derby, he would have a spot in the Kentucky Derby. If he didn't win — tough luck. But this was no easy maiden group or a shallow allowance field.

The challengers were two-time Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro (who just won the Grade 2 San Felipe via the disqualification of another Baffert trainee, McKinzie, for interference), Lecomte (G3) winner Instilled Regard, and future Ohio Derby (G3) victor Core Beliefs.

But even against the considerable upgrade in competition, Justify got out to an early lead and galloped in front with ease in the backstretch.

Bolt d’Oro loomed in the far turn, but never got within a length of his rival. Justify appeared to show signs of tiring at the top of the stretch, but found another gear in the final furlong and extended his advantage from 1 1/2 lengths to three at the wire.

The mission, as perfect as the timing needed to be executed, was accomplished. Justify punched his ticket to Churchill Downs.

The Derby

Off at just a hair less than 3-1, Justify broke from the gate as the favorite and got the perfect modern Kentucky Derby trip, one perfected by Baffert horses.

With tactical speed out of the gate, the Scat Daddy colt avoided trouble at the start, then pressed the speedy Promises Fulfilled from the outside, but they were going fast. Justify poked his head in front in the backstretch, but the fractions of :22.24, :45.77, and 1:11.01 over a sloppy main track took a toll on Promises Fulfilled, who had little fight left in the final turn.

Justify, however, kept finding more. At the top of the stretch, he was clear, with only Good Magic, the champion 2-year-old male of 2017, within striking distance.

Once again, it looked like Justify might get caught, but he had the stamina to hold on in the final furlong.

Completing the Triple Crown

If not for NBC's cameras overhead during the Preakness (G1), nobody would have been able to see much of the race.

A thick fog blanketed Pimlico and the main track was sloppy, but Justify had already proven he could handle those conditions.

Good Magic took it to Justify early this time, but got caught in a speed duel with the Derby winner and couldn't hang late. Again with outside positioning, Justify wore Good Magic into submission.

As Good Magic faded late in late stretch, a pair of challengers emerged from the fog, but the rallies from Bravazo and Tenfold were a couple jumps too late. Justify just had enough to finish a half-length ahead at the wire.

For a colt who appeared to be indefatigable, the stretch out to 1 1/2 miles for the Belmont (G1) was no problem at all.

After some questionable tactics by Baffert stablemate Restoring Hope, Justify easily acquired the lead and was never really challenged.

Vino Rosso took a run in the final turn but couldn't keep up. Hofburg moved wide but flattened out. Gronkowski rode the rail but didn't have the necessary late punch. Like all the other legs of the Triple Crown, Justify led a steady procession to the wire.

Every challenge was answered.

After the Triple Crown

Justify won't be remembered as fondly as other Triple Crown winners, largely because he never raced after the Triple Crown and never faced older horses, but what he achieved in such a short period time was one of the most impressive feats in racing's history.

Everything needed to go right, and it did, but it couldn't have been done by a lesser talent. That was most essential.

How great he was, or could have been, will always be a matter of debate, but the aspect of pure brilliance, even if it was just for a flash in time, should never be questioned.