Justify vs. American Pharoah: See their works side by side

By Jonathan Lintner
Photo: Mary Cage/HRN

Both Justify and American Pharoah worked a half mile in their first breeze after winning the Preakness Stakes. Both did so at Churchill Downs. Both breezes came the Tuesday a week out from their respective tries at a Triple Crown sweep in the Belmont Stakes.

Oh, and Martin Garcia, who has shuffled in and out of trainer Bob Baffert's good graces over the years, was aboard both horses.

So there are some striking similarities.

TVG/Betfair's Darin Zoccali further illustrated it by placing the breezes side by side.

American Pharoah worked his half mile in 48 seconds flat, whereas Justify got it in 46.80 seconds. Baffert said the track was playing faster this year. You can see in the stretch where Justify gets his advantage -- then in the first turn where American Pharoah seems to take it back with a longer gallop out.

Will Justify continue the trend by winning the 2018 Belmont Stakes? We find out in less than two weeks.

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