Staff report
Justify took the second leg of the Triple Crown at a foggy Preakness, but it was a nail-biter over a sloppy track.
Good Magic stayed with Justify nose-to-nose for much of the race but Justify broke free down the home stretch as Bravazo pulled into second.
Taking home the trophies. (Photo: JR Communications)
Trainer Bob Baffert hopes Justify becomes just the 13th thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown. Baffert won the latest Triple Crown with American Pharoah in 2015.
Mike Smith rode Justify to the winner’s circle.
Here’s what the trainer and jockey had to say:
Bob Baffert: “It was a nail-biter. They put it to us. That was a good horse [Good Magic] and it was like they had their own private match race. Somebody had to give, and I’m glad it wasn’t us. I’m so happy that we got it done. He’s just a great horse, to handle all that pressure and keep on running. He had to really work for it and I’m happy for the horse and Mike and all the connections that we pulled it out. They ran fast; I’ve never had one run that fast here.
“It took a lot out of me but I’m just glad … everybody came to see a good horse race. It was a great horse race. Good Magic, I tip my hand to him. He made us really work. He’s a really good horse.”
Mike Smith – “It’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true, to be honest with you. It’s been 25 years since I was blessed to win my first one, which was here, and to go into it with Bob and [wife] Jill and the whole crew, WinStar and China Horse Club and everyone who’s involved, Jack Wolf, I’m just so blessed to be riding for these people right now. I’m on cloud nine.”
“He got a little tired. This is the hardest race that he’s had, but he was also waiting on competition. It was awful loud out there and the track’s pretty narrow and he was kind of looking and jumping tracks and doing a few things, but it was a good kind of tired. It was that kind of tired I’m hoping, anyway, and I feel like he’ll move forward.”
