Triple Crown – Justify wins Preakness, now eyes Triple Crown
Updated: 19/11/2024
[fcrp_feat_sc sc_id=”18347″]Unbeaten Justify charged clear through the fog to win the Preakness Stakes as the Kentucky Derby winner set the stage for a Triple Crown bid next month .
The heavily favored three-year-old chestnut colt overcame a lengthy initial challenge from Good Magic on a sloppy track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore to add to his Churchill Downs triumph with a fifth victory in as many races .
A hard-charging Bravazo finished second and Tenfold was third as Good Magic faded to fourth toward the end of the 1 3/16 mile( 9.5 furlongs) dirt track race .
A victory in the Belmont Stakes in New York on June 9 would earn trainer Bob Baffert his second U.S. thoroughbred racing Triple Crown in four years after American Pharoah achieved the feat in 2015.
Jockey Mike Smith was equally as elated .
” Unbelievable. It's a dream come true, to be honest with you ,” Smith told after the race .
” It's been 25 years since I was blessed to win my first( Triple Crown race ), which was here, and to go into it with Bob and( Baffert's wife) Jill and the whole crew … I'm just so blest to be riding for these people right now .
” I'm on cloud nine .”
Good Magic set out to challenge from the start, and the two raced neck-and-neck for much of the race with the Kentucky Derby runner-up even taking the lead at times .
” It was like they had their own private match race ,” Baffert added .
Justify, who became the first horse since 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without having raced as a two-year-old, ultimately transgressed free of Good Magic, merely to be challenged by Bravazo and Tenfold down the home stretch .
” Good Magic, he really made us work ,” Baffert told.” That's a really good horse .”
Justify, whose five races have come in 91 days, depicted no ill effects from a bruise to the colt's left hind heel, likely incurred while racing on the wet surface at the Derby .
As for his chances of joining American Pharoah as a Triple Crown winner, Baffert remains optimistic .
US Horse Racing Free Bets
[fcrp_feat_sc sc_id=”18347″]https://sportingways.com/horse-racing-betting/
Relevant news
New to Nags Bet? Deposit £10, Get £10 Free Bet – Here’s How!
Nags Bet, the new UK horse racing betting platform, is here with a straightforward and…
BetOnline’s $25 Racebook Promo: Start Betting with Zero Risk
Horse racing has long been a sport that combines the thrill of the chase with…
How Much is a 1 Pound Each Way Lucky 15 Bet?
A Lucky 15 bet is a popular wager in horse racing and other sports, combining…
The Thrill of a Lucky 15: Doubling the Odds with Just One Winner
The Excitement of Placing a Lucky 15 Bet The first time I placed a Lucky…
An Insider’s Guide to Lucky 15 Bets: Which Bookmakers Offer the Best Bonuses?
My first encounter with a Lucky 15 bet was during a family gathering, where my…
Boost Your Horse Racing Bets with Extra Places at Betfred!
For horse racing enthusiasts looking to enhance their betting strategy, Betfred offers a lucrative opportunity…
Login
Register