Through the lens: Scenes from Justify's Triple Crown triumph

There is a certain air of electricity at Belmont Park when a Triple Crown is on the line. Suspense builds throughout the day like the plot of an action movie as the Belmont Stakes approaches. Throngs of fans fill the vast grandstand apron, many of them donning some sort of support for the horse making a bid for racing’s most illustrious prize.

It was only three years ago when American Pharoah rocked not only the racing world, but the sports world, when he ended the longest drought in Triple Crown history by becoming the first horse in 37 years to sweep the series. But recency could not diminish the allure of the potential of a history-making moment.

This year, all eyes were on yet another charge from the hair of the white-haired wizard Bob Baffert in a robust, eye-catching chestnut colt named Justify. Although the colt owned by a conglomerate of owners (WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, and Starlight Racing) had no enduring drought to end, he still had a magnitude of history to make.

In the Kentucky Derby, Justify broke the “Curse of Apollo” by becoming the first horse since 1882 to win the Run for the Roses without racing as a 2-year-old. A win in the Belmont would make him the first Triple Crown winner to have an un-raced juvenile career. Beyond that, Justify was seeking to become the first undefeated Triple Crown winner since the great Seattle Slew in 1977. And, of course, sweeping the series of classics would secure him a place alongside the immortals as only the 13th Triple Crown winner in history.

The crowd was full of people like these two college graduates, Alex Lord (left) and Carly Markbreiter (right), pictured above - people eager to see history to be made while enjoying the electric atmosphere.

As Alex explained, the two of them - along with their other friends in attendance - went to college together in Virginia. After a fun day spent at a steeplechase, they decided the horse races were a fun social event for the friend group to enjoy together. But with history on the line, this day was special.

“I’m intrigued about the Triple Crown,” Markbreiter said. “Although it’s happened in the past few years, it’s still a historic event. I feel like it’s still exciting in a big way. And we’re just here to have fun, thrive with our friends, and run around. It’s beautiful outside, it’s a great time.”

To build the suspense, the undercard on Belmont Stakes Day featured some of the best horses in America competing at the highest level. A slew of graded stakes races filled the card, adding to the day’s excitement.

But it was as the 3-year-olds were led over to the paddock that the suspense began to build. And when “New York, New York” began playing over the loudspeakers, the crowd of just over 90,000 let out the first of many roars as they began singing to the iconic song. The noise continued when Justify’s name was announced in the post parade, and again as the horse’s approached the gate.

Justify set the pace, and as the field turned for home with the massive blaze-faced chestnut in front, the flashbacks were all too familiar: the great Spectacular Bid fading in the stretch and the crushing disappointment of Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Smarty Jones getting caught in the final strides.

But there was one recent memory that kept a confident feeling amongst the packed Belmont crowd: Baffert’s American Pharoah leading from start to finish to give racing fans the moment they had so long been yearning for. Now, this new Baffert charge - an imposing chestnut colt who had only been on the racing scene for just more than 100 days - was galloping down the stretch at Big Sandy to the roar of the crowd with history waiting at the finish line.

This colt, although immensely talented, wasn’t supposed to win the Kentucky Derby. Horses that don’t race at two just simply are incapable of that. But he did.

Horses with just three starts prior to the Triple Crown don’t defy more experienced horses to take the first two legs. But he did.

Justify had faced a world of doubt due to his inexperience, but as he led his rivals down the stretch, he left very little doubt that his name would forever be etched among the immortals.

As Justify crossed the iconic Belmont finish line 1 ¾ lengths in front, the crowd erupted at the sight of history being made. The thunder of the crowd only continued as Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith paraded racing’s newest king in front of the grandstand.

From the casual fan to the devoted racing fan, it was clear this past Saturday that we are truly experiencing a golden age of horse racing. The younger fans are now getting to experience the kind of days they've heard about. The veteran fans are being transcended to the glory days of the 1970s. Standing at Belmont Park on Saturday as the cheering continued for minutes on end, it was evident that we were in the presence of greatness in an era of racing that will be talked about for years to come.